Core 2 Duo T5600 vs Pentium G870
Core 2 Duo T5600
Pentium G870
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 Pentium G870 is on rank 836, so the Pentium G870 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 Pentium G870
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1509%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 Pentium G870
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.
Pentium G870
The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T5600 and Pentium G870 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 — a 51.5% clock advantage for the Pentium G870 (base: 1.83 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium G870 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5600 scores 1,560 against the Pentium G870's 1,562 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G870. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T5600 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G870.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.1 GHz+69% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.1 GHz+69% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,560 | 1,562 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G870 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo T5600 launched at $241 MSRP, while the Pentium G870 debuted at $86.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $241 | $86-64% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2012 |
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