Core 2 Duo T7250 vs Core i5-2450M

Core 2 Duo T7250

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2 GHz2007

Core i5-2450M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2012

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 2 Duo T7250

2 / 2

2,073

0.0%

2,076

+0.1%

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 T7250 is positioned at rank 20 and the Core i5-2450M is on rank 1100, so the Core 2 Duo T7250 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T7250

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

142%

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

139%

#10

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

128%

#11

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

127%

#12

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

126%

#14

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

122%

#15

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

117%

#16

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

117%

#17

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

114%

#20

Core 2 Duo T7250

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#22

Core i3-3130M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

92%

#23

Core 2 Duo T5550

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $5

88%

#24

Core 2 Duo T7100

MSRP: $197|Avg: $15

88%

#27

Pentium 2030M

MSRP: $134|Avg: N/A

84%

#28

Core 2 Duo T5750

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $8

84%

#29

Core 2 Duo T7200

MSRP: $286|Avg: $6

83%

#30

Core i5-3230M

MSRP: $225|Avg: $13

82%

#31

Atom D525

MSRP: $63|Avg: N/A

82%

#32

Atom x7835RE

MSRP: $127|Avg: N/A

82%

#33

Core 2 Duo P8400

MSRP: $209|Avg: $10

80%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2450M

#1088

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3179%

#1089

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3132%

#1090

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2875%

#1091

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2862%

#1092

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2836%

#1094

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2739%

#1095

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2626%

#1096

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2622%

#1097

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2551%

#1100

Core i5-2450M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

100%

#1101

Core i5-7Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1102

Core i5-7Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $100

100%

#1104

Pentium 997

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

98%

#1105

Pentium A1018

MSRP: $132|Avg: $15

98%

#1106

Core i5-2430M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

97%

#1108

Pentium Dual Core T4500

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

97%

#1109

Celeron B820

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

96%

#1110

Pentium B980

MSRP: $125|Avg: $35

95%

#1111

Celeron 867

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

95%

#1112

Pentium B970

MSRP: $125|Avg: $39

95%

#1113

Core i5-2410M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

94%

#1114

Pentium T2370

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

94%

#1115

Pentium N3710

MSRP: $161|Avg: $50

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-2450M delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core 2 Duo T7250 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.1% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core 2 Duo T7250	Core i5-2450M
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core 2 Duo T7250	Core i5-2450M
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core 2 Duo T7250 Benchmark Check

Core i5-2450M Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo T7250 and Core i5-2450M

Core 2 Duo T7250

The Core 2 Duo T7250 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: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,073 points. Launch price was $249.

Core i5-2450M

The Core i5-2450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,076 points. Launch price was $823.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo T7250 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-2450M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7250 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-2450M — a 43.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-2450M (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T7250 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-2450M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T7250 scores 2,073 against the Core i5-2450M's 2,076 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-2450M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T7250 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2450M.

Feature	Core 2 Duo T7250	Core i5-2450M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2 GHz	3.1 GHz+55%
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.5 GHz+25%
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	256K (per core)
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Merom (2006−2008)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,073	2,076
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	1,352
Geekbench 6 Single	—	453
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	871

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo T7250 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-2450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Core 2 Duo T7250 versus 1333 on the Core i5-2450M — the Core i5-2450M supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: GM965,PM965 (Core 2 Duo T7250) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2450M).

Feature	Core 2 Duo T7250	Core i5-2450M
Socket	PGA478	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	1333+66550%
Max RAM Capacity	—	16
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7250) vs true (Core i5-2450M). The Core i5-2450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Core 2 Duo T7250 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7250 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7250 rivals Athlon 64 X2 TK-42; Core i5-2450M rivals AMD A8-3500M.