Core 2 Duo T5550 vs Core i7-820QM
Core 2 Duo T5550
Core i7-820QM
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 T5550 is positioned at rank 23 and the Core i7-820QM is on rank 1231, so the Core 2 Duo T5550 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 T5550
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-820QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($546) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10862%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($546) |
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 T5550 and Core i7-820QM
Core 2 Duo T5550
The Core 2 Duo T5550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,826 points. Launch price was $249.
Core i7-820QM
The Core i7-820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.73 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,819 points. Launch price was $546.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5550 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-820QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-820QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5550 versus 3.06 GHz on the Core i7-820QM — a 50.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-820QM (base: 1.83 GHz vs 1.73 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5550 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i7-820QM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5550 scores 1,826 against the Core i7-820QM's 1,819 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5550. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5550 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-820QM.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.06 GHz+67% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz+6% | 1.73 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 8 MB (total)+300% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Clarksfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,826 | 1,819 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5550 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i7-820QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T5550) / true (Core i7-820QM). Direct competitor: Core i7-820QM rivals Core 2 Quad Q9000.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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