Core 2 Duo P9600 vs Core 2 Duo E8435

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 P9600 is positioned at rank 609 and the Core 2 Duo E8435 is on rank 1152, so the Core 2 Duo P9600 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 P9600

#185

Ryzen 7 5825C

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

100%

#597

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

805%

#598

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

794%

#599

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

729%

#600

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

725%

#601

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

719%

#603

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

694%

#604

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

665%

#605

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

664%

#606

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

646%

#609

Core 2 Duo P9600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#622

Athlon II P320

MSRP: $50|Avg: $15

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8435

#1140

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3986%

#1141

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3928%

#1142

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3606%

#1143

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3590%

#1144

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3557%

#1146

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3435%

#1147

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3293%

#1148

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3288%

#1149

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3200%

#1152

Core 2 Duo E8435

MSRP: $150|Avg: $74

100%

#1153

Celeron M 723

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

100%

#1154

Core M-5Y51

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

98%

#1155

Core i7-3517UE

MSRP: $330|Avg: $35

98%

#1156

Pentium N3530

MSRP: $161|Avg: $20

98%

#1158

Core i3-330E

MSRP: $177|Avg: $89

97%

#1159

Core i7-2640M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

96%

#1161

Core M-5Y71

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

96%

#1163

Core i7-2620M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

95%

#1164

Celeron N3010

MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A

93%

#1165

Core i7-3537U

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

92%

#1166

Core M-5Y31

MSRP: $281|Avg: $30

92%

#1167

Core M-5Y10a

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

92%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core 2 Duo P9600 leads in gaming performance. However, the Core 2 Duo E8435 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 1% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core 2 Duo P9600	Core 2 Duo E8435
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($74)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core 2 Duo P9600	Core 2 Duo E8435
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($74)

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 P9600 Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo E8435 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo P9600 and Core 2 Duo E8435

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.

Core 2 Duo E8435

The Core 2 Duo E8435 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.067 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,104 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo P9600 and Core 2 Duo E8435 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9600 versus 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8435 — a 189.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9600 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.067 GHz). Both are built on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P9600 scores 1,093 against the Core 2 Duo E8435's 1,104 — a 1% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8435.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P9600	Core 2 Duo E8435
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.66 GHz+3700%	0.07 GHz
Base Clock	2.66 GHz	3.067 GHz+15%
L3 Cache	6 MB L2 Cache	—
L2 Cache	6 MB	6 MB (total)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,093	1,104+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	257

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P9600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo E8435 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.