CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E8500
Turion II N550
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 E8500 is positioned at rank 427 and the Turion II N550 is on rank 511, so the Core 2 Duo E8500 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 E8500
Performance Per Dollar Turion II N550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8500 | Turion II N550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($26) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8500 | Turion II N550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($26) | ✅ 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo E8500 and Turion II N550
Core 2 Duo E8500
The Core 2 Duo E8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.16 GHz, with boost up to 3.17 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,297 points. Launch price was $249.
Turion II N550
The Turion II N550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,315 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8500 and Turion II N550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.17 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8500 versus 2.6 GHz on the Turion II N550 — a 19.8% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8500. The Core 2 Duo E8500 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion II N550 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8500 scores 1,297 against the Turion II N550's 1,315 — a 1.4% lead for the Turion II N550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8500 | Turion II N550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.17 GHz+22% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.16 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,297 | 1,315+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8500 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Turion II N550 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8500 | Turion II N550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E8500) / not specified (Turion II N550). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8500 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8500 | Turion II N550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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