CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E4600
Celeron 2950M
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 E4600 is positioned at rank 1006 and the Celeron 2950M is on rank 545, so the Celeron 2950M 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 E4600
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2950M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4600 | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4600 | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) | ✅ 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 E4600 and Celeron 2950M
Core 2 Duo E4600
The Core 2 Duo E4600 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,235 points. Launch price was $249.
Celeron 2950M
The Celeron 2950M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,238 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4600 and Celeron 2950M share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4600 versus 2 GHz on the Celeron 2950M — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E4600 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4600 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron 2950M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4600 scores 1,235 against the Celeron 2950M's 1,238 — a 0.2% lead for the Celeron 2950M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4600 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2950M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4600 | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+20% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+20% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,235 | 1,238 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 352 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 636 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4600 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 2950M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E4600 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2950M — the Celeron 2950M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2950M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo E4600) vs 16 (Celeron 2950M) — the Celeron 2950M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Q963,P35,G31 (Core 2 Duo E4600) and HM87,HM86 (Celeron 2950M).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4600 | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA946 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3L-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo E4600) / VT-x (Celeron 2950M). The Celeron 2950M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2950M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2950M rivals Pentium 2020M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4600 | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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