Core 2 Duo P9500 vs Core i5-4210M
Core 2 Duo P9500
Core i5-4210M
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 P9500 is positioned at rank 354 and the Core i5-4210M is on rank 715, so the Core 2 Duo P9500 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 P9500
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4210M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9500 | Core i5-4210M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9500 | Core i5-4210M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 P9500 and Core i5-4210M
Core 2 Duo P9500
The Core 2 Duo P9500 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 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 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: 2,901 points. Launch price was $348.
Core i5-4210M
The Core i5-4210M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,899 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo P9500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-4210M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9500 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-4210M — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-4210M (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P9500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4210M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P9500 scores 2,901 against the Core i5-4210M's 2,899 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo P9500. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 340 vs 959, a 95.3% lead for the Core i5-4210M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9500 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-4210M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9500 | Core i5-4210M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.2 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.6 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+100% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+1100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,901 | 2,899 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 340 | 959+182% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo P9500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-4210M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Core i5-4210M 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. Chipset compatibility: PM45,GM45 (Core 2 Duo P9500) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i5-4210M).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9500 | Core i5-4210M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PGA946 |
| 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 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo P9500) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-4210M). The Core i5-4210M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Core 2 Duo P9500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo P9500 targets Budget, Core i5-4210M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo P9500 rivals Athlon II X2 245e; Core i5-4210M rivals A10-5750M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9500 | Core i5-4210M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Mainstream Laptop |
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