Core 2 Duo P8600 vs Core i7-3687U

CPU

GPU

Core 2 Duo P8600

2 Cores2 Thrd3 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2008

Core i7-3687U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2013

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 2 Duo P8600

2 / 2

2,618

0.0%

2,621

+0.1%

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 P8600 is positioned at rank 160 and the Core i7-3687U is on rank 654, so the Core 2 Duo P8600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P8600

#148

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

336%

#149

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

331%

#150

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

304%

#151

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

303%

#152

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

300%

#154

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

290%

#155

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

278%

#156

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

277%

#157

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

270%

#160

Core 2 Duo P8600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#173

Celeron N3060

MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3687U

#642

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

896%

#643

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

882%

#644

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

810%

#645

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

806%

#646

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

799%

#648

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

772%

#649

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

740%

#650

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

739%

#651

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

719%

#654

Core i7-3687U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#662

Athlon II P360

MSRP: $60|Avg: $10

99%

#665

Athlon X2 QL-64

MSRP: $50|Avg: $15

99%

#666

Core 3 N350

MSRP: $225|Avg: $220

98%

#668

FX-7500

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i7-3687U delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core 2 Duo P8600 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.1% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core 2 Duo P8600	Core i7-3687U
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core 2 Duo P8600	Core i7-3687U
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

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.

Core 2 Duo P8600 Benchmark Check

Core i7-3687U Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo P8600 and Core i7-3687U

Core 2 Duo P8600

The Core 2 Duo P8600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,618 points. Launch price was $209.

Core i7-3687U

The Core i7-3687U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,621 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo P8600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-3687U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8600 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3687U — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-3687U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P8600 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-3687U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P8600 scores 2,618 against the Core i7-3687U's 2,621 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-3687U. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P8600 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3687U.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8600	Core i7-3687U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	3.3 GHz+38%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+14%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB+1100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,618	2,621
Geekbench 6 Single	—	640
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,240

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P8600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i7-3687U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Core i7-3687U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo P8600) and QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3687U).

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8600	Core i7-3687U
Socket	PGA478	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo P8600) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-3687U). The Core i7-3687U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Core 2 Duo P8600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3687U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core i7-3687U rivals Ryzen 7 3700U.