Core 2 Duo T6400 vs Core i5-4250U
Core 2 Duo T6400
Core i5-4250U
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 T6400 is positioned at rank 49 and the Core i5-4250U is on rank 100, so the Core 2 Duo T6400 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 T6400
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4250U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6400 | Core i5-4250U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6400 | Core i5-4250U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 T6400 and Core i5-4250U
Core 2 Duo T6400
The Core 2 Duo T6400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) 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 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,115 points. Launch price was $249.
Core i5-4250U
The Core i5-4250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $430.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T6400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-4250U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6400 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4250U — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-4250U (base: 2 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T6400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4250U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T6400 scores 2,115 against the Core i5-4250U's 2,144 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i5-4250U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 650 vs 770, a 16.9% lead for the Core i5-4250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,300 vs 1,450 (10.9% advantage for the Core i5-4250U). L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6400 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4250U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6400 | Core i5-4250U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.6 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+54% | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,115 | 2,144+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 650 | 770+18% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,300 | 1,450+12% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T6400 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-4250U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T6400 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-4250U — the Core i5-4250U supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-4250U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo T6400) vs 12 (Core i5-4250U) — the Core i5-4250U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel GM45,Intel PM45 (Core 2 Duo T6400) and Haswell-ULT (Core i5-4250U).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6400 | Core i5-4250U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3L-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: No (Core 2 Duo T6400) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4250U). The Core i5-4250U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5000), while the Core 2 Duo T6400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T6400 targets Mobile, Core i5-4250U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-4250U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6400 | Core i5-4250U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 5000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | No | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mobile | Budget |
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