Core 2 Duo T5870 vs Celeron 2957U
Core 2 Duo T5870
Celeron 2957U
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 T5870 is positioned at rank 538 and the Celeron 2957U is on rank 53, so the Celeron 2957U 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 T5870
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2957U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5870 | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5870 | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 T5870 and Celeron 2957U
Core 2 Duo T5870
The Core 2 Duo T5870 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,089 points. Launch price was $249.
Celeron 2957U
The Celeron 2957U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,077 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T5870 and Celeron 2957U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5870 versus 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T5870 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5870 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron 2957U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5870 scores 2,089 against the Celeron 2957U's 2,077 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5870. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 203 vs 284, a 33.3% lead for the Celeron 2957U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5870 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5870 | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+43% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+43% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,089 | 2,077 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 203 | 284+40% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 314 | — |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T5870 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2957U — the Celeron 2957U supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2957U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo T5870) vs 10 (Celeron 2957U) — the Celeron 2957U offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: GM965,GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo T5870) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2957U).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5870 | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3L-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 10 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. The Celeron 2957U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core 2 Duo T5870 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T5870 targets Legacy Mobile, Celeron 2957U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5870 | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Legacy Mobile | Budget |
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