
Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Pentium G3460

Core 2 Duo T5900

Pentium G3460
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 T5900 is positioned at rank 19 and the Pentium G3460 is on rank 913, so the Core 2 Duo T5900 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 T5900
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3460
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Pentium G3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Pentium G3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+402%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 T5900 and Pentium G3460

Core 2 Duo T5900
The Core 2 Duo T5900 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. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,123 points. Launch price was $249.

Pentium G3460
The Pentium G3460 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,114 points. Launch price was $89.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T5900 and Pentium G3460 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5900 versus 3.5 GHz on the Pentium G3460 — a 45.6% clock advantage for the Pentium G3460. The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium G3460 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5900 scores 2,123 against the Pentium G3460's 2,114 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5900.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Pentium G3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.5 GHz+59% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,123 | 2,114 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the P socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G3460 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Pentium G3460 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | P | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($5 vs $25), the Core 2 Duo T5900 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo T5900 delivers 424.6 pts/$ vs 84.6 pts/$ for the Pentium G3460 — making the Core 2 Duo T5900 the 133.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Pentium G3460 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $149 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-80% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 424.6+402% | 84.6 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















