Core 2 Duo T5600 vs Core 2 Duo E7300
Core 2 Duo T5600
Core 2 Duo E7300
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 T5600 is positioned at rank 1179 and the Core 2 Duo E7300 is on rank 969, so the Core 2 Duo E7300 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 T5600
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E7300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($133) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+81%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($133) |
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 T5600 and Core 2 Duo E7300
Core 2 Duo T5600
The Core 2 Duo T5600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 July 2006 (19 years ago). 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: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $241.
Core 2 Duo E7300
The Core 2 Duo E7300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 3 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,555 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T5600 and Core 2 Duo E7300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7300 — a 37.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7300 (base: 1.83 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E7300 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5600 scores 1,560 against the Core 2 Duo E7300's 1,555 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5600. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.67 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.66 GHz+45% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,560 | 1,555 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 412 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 725 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo E7300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-667 memory speed. The Core 2 Duo E7300 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo T5600) vs 16 (Core 2 Duo E7300) — the Core 2 Duo E7300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 945GM,945PM (Core 2 Duo T5600) and P35,G33,G41,P45 (Core 2 Duo E7300).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T5600) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo E7300). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E7300 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7300 rivals Athlon II X2 245.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo T5600 launched at $241 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E7300 debuted at $133.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Core 2 Duo E7300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $241 | $133-45% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $133 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2008 |
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