Core 2 Duo T6500 vs Celeron G3930
Core 2 Duo T6500
Celeron G3930
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 T6500 is positioned at rank 178 and the Celeron G3930 is on rank 395, so the Core 2 Duo T6500 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 T6500
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 T6500 and Celeron G3930
Core 2 Duo T6500
The Core 2 Duo T6500 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 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: 2,249 points. Launch price was $249.
Celeron G3930
The Celeron G3930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 2133, DDR3L 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,259 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T6500 and Celeron G3930 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6500 versus 2.9 GHz on the Celeron G3930 — a 32% clock advantage for the Celeron G3930 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T6500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G3930 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T6500 scores 2,249 against the Celeron G3930's 2,259 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G3930. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6500 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3930.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,249 | 2,259 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 750 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T6500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron G3930 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T6500 versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3930 — the Celeron G3930 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3930 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: PM45 (Core 2 Duo T6500) and H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3930).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR4-2400+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 64 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: false (Core 2 Duo T6500) vs VT-x (Celeron G3930). The Celeron G3930 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Core 2 Duo T6500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3930 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3930 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | false | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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