Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Turion II Ultra M600

Intel

Core 2 Duo T5900

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2008
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Turion II Ultra M600

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2009
Similar parts
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Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Turion II Ultra M600 Performance Spectrum

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.

Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Turion II Ultra M600 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Turion II Ultra M600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo T5900

2008

Why buy it

  • +0.1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Turion II Ultra M600

2009

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (2,120 vs 2,123).

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core 2 Duo T5900 better than Turion II Ultra M600?
    It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Turion II Ultra M600 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo T5900 pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo T5900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core 2 Duo T5900 still makes the most sense overall. Core 2 Duo T5900 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Turion II Ultra M600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

    Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Turion II Ultra M600 Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

    Intel

    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.

    AMD

    Turion II Ultra M600

    The Turion II Ultra M600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,120 points. Launch price was $69.

    Processing Power

    Both the Core 2 Duo T5900 and Turion II Ultra M600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5900 versus 2.4 GHz on the Turion II Ultra M600 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Turion II Ultra M600. The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Turion II Ultra M600 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5900 scores 2,123 against the Turion II Ultra M600's 2,120 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5900.

    FeatureCore 2 Duo T5900Turion II Ultra M600
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 2
    Boost Clock
    2.2 GHz
    2.4 GHz+9%
    L2 Cache
    2 MB
    2 MB
    Process
    65 nm
    45 nm-31%
    Architecture
    Merom (2006−2008)
    Caspian (2009)
    PassMark
    2,123
    2,120
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the P socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Turion II Ultra M600 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureCore 2 Duo T5900Turion II Ultra M600
    Socket
    P
    S1g3
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 2.0+82%