CPU
GPU
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Core 2 Duo T5500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is positioned at rank 1088 and the Core 2 Duo T5500 is on rank 386, so the Core 2 Duo T5500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core 2 Duo T5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core 2 Duo T5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and Core 2 Duo T5500
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,665 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo T5500
The Core 2 Duo T5500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 1.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,660 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and Core 2 Duo T5500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus 1.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5500 — a 54.4% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5500 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ scores 1,665 against the Core 2 Duo T5500's 1,660 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core 2 Duo T5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+75% | 1.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 90 nm | 65 nm-28% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,665 | 1,660 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo T5500 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core 2 Duo T5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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