Core 2 Duo E4400 vs Core 2 Duo P9600
Core 2 Duo E4400
Core 2 Duo P9600
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 Core 2 Duo E4400 is positioned at rank 1001 and the Core 2 Duo P9600 is on rank 609, so the Core 2 Duo P9600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4400
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 Core 2 Duo E4400 and Core 2 Duo P9600
Core 2 Duo E4400
The Core 2 Duo E4400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $249.
Core 2 Duo P9600
The Core 2 Duo P9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,093 points. Launch price was $348.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4400 and Core 2 Duo P9600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9600 — a 28.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9600 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4400 scores 1,095 against the Core 2 Duo P9600's 1,093 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4400 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9600.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.66 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.66 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 6 MB+200% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,095 | 1,093 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 208 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo P9600 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: None (Core 2 Duo E4400) / not specified (Core 2 Duo P9600). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | None | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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