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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Atom Z3735G

2014

Why buy it

✅+1.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $299 less on MSRP ($17 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1794.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 170.1 vs 9.0 PassMark/$ ($17 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 6W, a 4W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Core 2 Duo SP9600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 6 MB).

Core 2 Duo SP9600

2009

Why buy it

✅+200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,836 vs 2,891).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.0 vs 170.1 PassMark/$ ($316 MSRP vs $17 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 6W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom Z3735G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Atom Z3735G

2014

Core 2 Duo SP9600

2009

Why buy it

✅+1.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $299 less on MSRP ($17 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1794.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 170.1 vs 9.0 PassMark/$ ($17 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 6W, a 4W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Core 2 Duo SP9600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,836 vs 2,891).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.0 vs 170.1 PassMark/$ ($316 MSRP vs $17 MSRP).
❌200% higher power demand at 6W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom Z3735G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom Z3735G better than Core 2 Duo SP9600?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core 2 Duo SP9600 is ahead with a 1.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Atom Z3735G pulls ahead with 1.9% better PassMark. Core 2 Duo SP9600 also has the bigger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Atom Z3735G is the better fit. You are getting 1.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Atom Z3735G is the smarter buy today. Atom Z3735G is $299 cheaper on MSRP at $17 MSRP versus $316 MSRP, and it gives you 1.9% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core 2 Duo SP9600 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1794.9% better value on MSRP (170.1 vs 9.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom Z3735G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Atom Z3735G Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo SP9600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
1080p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	66 FPS	62 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	64 FPS
medium	55 FPS	53 FPS
high	43 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	32 FPS

Open Atom Z3735G Open Core 2 Duo SP9600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
1080p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	67 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	68 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	58 FPS
4K
low	63 FPS	71 FPS
medium	56 FPS	64 FPS
high	46 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	30 FPS

Open Atom Z3735G Open Core 2 Duo SP9600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
1080p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS

Open Atom Z3735G Open Core 2 Duo SP9600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
1080p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	71 FPS
medium	72 FPS	71 FPS
high	72 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	71 FPS

Open Atom Z3735G Open Core 2 Duo SP9600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Atom Z3735G and Core 2 Duo SP9600

Atom Z3735G

The Atom Z3735G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA592. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,891 points. Launch price was $17.

Core 2 Duo SP9600

The Core 2 Duo SP9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,836 points. Launch price was $316.

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Processing Power

The Atom Z3735G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom Z3735G has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Atom Z3735G versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9600 — a 32.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo SP9600 (base: 1.33 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Atom Z3735G uses the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z3735G scores 2,891 against the Core 2 Duo SP9600's 2,836 — a 1.9% lead for the Atom Z3735G. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Atom Z3735G vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SP9600.

Feature	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.83 GHz	2.53 GHz+38%
Base Clock	1.33 GHz	2.53 GHz+90%
L3 Cache	2 MB L2 Cache	6 MB L2 Cache+200%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Bay Trail-T (2013−2014)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	2,891+2%	2,836

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Memory & Platform

The Atom Z3735G uses the UTFCBGA592 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
Socket	UTFCBGA592	BGA479
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-RS 1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	1 GB	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

The Atom Z3735G includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Atom Z3735G	Core 2 Duo SP9600
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Atom Z3735G launched at $17 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 debuted at $316. On MSRP ($17 vs $316), the Atom Z3735G is $299 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Atom Z3735G delivers 170.1 pts/$ vs 9.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo SP9600 — making the Atom Z3735G the 179.9% better value option.