CPU
GPU
Celeron 2955U
Core 2 Duo SL9600
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 Celeron 2955U is positioned at rank 427 and the Core 2 Duo SL9600 is on rank 1177, so the Celeron 2955U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2955U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SL9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2955U | Core 2 Duo SL9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2955U | Core 2 Duo SL9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
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.
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron 2955U and Core 2 Duo SL9600
Celeron 2955U
The Celeron 2955U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,069 points. Launch price was $69.
Core 2 Duo SL9600
The Core 2 Duo SL9600 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 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.13 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,054 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 2955U and Core 2 Duo SL9600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2955U versus 2.13 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SL9600 — a 41.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo SL9600 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Celeron 2955U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SL9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2955U scores 2,069 against the Core 2 Duo SL9600's 2,054 — a 0.7% lead for the Celeron 2955U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2955U vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SL9600.
| Feature | Celeron 2955U | Core 2 Duo SL9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.13 GHz+52% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.13 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB L2 Cache+200% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB+2300% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,069 | 2,054 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2955U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo SL9600 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Celeron 2955U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 2955U) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo SL9600) — the Celeron 2955U offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2955U) and GS45,GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo SL9600).
| Feature | Celeron 2955U | Core 2 Duo SL9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2955U) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core 2 Duo SL9600). The Celeron 2955U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core 2 Duo SL9600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2955U targets Budget, Core 2 Duo SL9600 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Celeron 2955U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron 2955U | Core 2 Duo SL9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Mobile |
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