Core 2 Duo SL9400 vs Pentium N4200

Core 2 Duo SL9400

2 Cores2 Thrd6 WWMax: 1.86 GHz2008

Pentium N4200

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2016

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 2 Duo SL9400

2 / 2

2,144

0.0%

2,158

+0.7%

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 SL9400 is positioned at rank 1147 and the Pentium N4200 is on rank 1012, so the Pentium N4200 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 SL9400

#1135

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3886%

#1136

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3829%

#1137

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3515%

#1138

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3499%

#1139

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3467%

#1141

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3348%

#1142

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3211%

#1143

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3205%

#1144

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3119%

#1147

Core 2 Duo SL9400

MSRP: $284|Avg: N/A

100%

#1149

Pentium N3540

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

99%

#1150

Core i7-3555LE

MSRP: $300|Avg: $280

99%

#1151

Core i3-2377M

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

98%

#1152

Core 2 Duo E8435

MSRP: $150|Avg: $74

97%

#1153

Celeron M 723

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

97%

#1154

Core M-5Y51

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

96%

#1155

Core i7-3517UE

MSRP: $330|Avg: $35

96%

#1156

Pentium N3530

MSRP: $161|Avg: $20

95%

#1157

Core i3-330E

MSRP: $177|Avg: $89

94%

#1159

Core i7-2640M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

94%

#1160

Core M-5Y71

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

93%

#1162

Core i7-2620M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium N4200

#1000

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

2190%

#1001

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

2157%

#1002

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1981%

#1003

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1972%

#1004

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1954%

#1006

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1887%

#1007

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1809%

#1008

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1806%

#1009

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1757%

#1012

Pentium N4200

MSRP: $161|Avg: $30.89

100%

#1013

Pentium J2900

MSRP: $94|Avg: $20

100%

#1014

Celeron T1700

MSRP: $80|Avg: $5

99%

#1015

Celeron T3500

MSRP: $80|Avg: $10

98%

#1016

A12-9720P

MSRP: $200|Avg: $25

98%

#1017

Core i5-4300M

MSRP: $227|Avg: N/A

97%

#1018

Celeron 1005M

MSRP: $86|Avg: N/A

97%

#1019

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

MSRP: $60|Avg: $10

96%

#1020

Athlon Neo MV-40

MSRP: $100|Avg: $5

95%

#1021

Core i7-4860EQ

MSRP: $434|Avg: $80

95%

#1022

Pentium SU2700

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

95%

#1023

A4-1250

MSRP: $100|Avg: $30

94%

#1025

Core i5-4200M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

93%

#1026

Celeron 1000M

MSRP: $86|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Pentium N4200 (2016) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR3, DDR3, DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core 2 Duo SL9400	Pentium N4200
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($284)	✅ More affordable ($30.89)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core 2 Duo SL9400 (2008) relies on 45 nm technology and older memory, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core 2 Duo SL9400	Pentium N4200
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+825%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($284)	✅ More affordable ($30.89)

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 SL9400 Benchmark Check

Pentium N4200 Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo SL9400 and Pentium N4200

Core 2 Duo SL9400

The Core 2 Duo SL9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $284.

Pentium N4200

The Pentium N4200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,158 points. Launch price was $161.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo SL9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N4200 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N4200 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 versus 2.5 GHz on the Pentium N4200 — a 29.4% clock advantage for the Pentium N4200 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium N4200 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SL9400 scores 2,144 against the Pentium N4200's 2,158 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium N4200. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium N4200.

Feature	Core 2 Duo SL9400	Pentium N4200
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.86 GHz	2.5 GHz+34%
Base Clock	1.86 GHz+69%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB L2 Cache+200%	2 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	6 MB+200%	2 MB
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)
PassMark	2,144	2,158

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium N4200 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo SL9400	Pentium N4200
Socket	BGA956	FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—