
Core 2 Duo T7700 vs Xeon E5520

Core 2 Duo T7700

Xeon E5520
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 T7700 is positioned at rank 484 and the Xeon E5520 is on rank 788, so the Core 2 Duo T7700 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 T7700
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7700 | Xeon E5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7700 | Xeon E5520 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 T7700 and Xeon E5520

Core 2 Duo T7700
The Core 2 Duo T7700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,554 points. Launch price was $307.

Xeon E5520
The Xeon E5520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,541 points. Launch price was $19.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T7700 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5520 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7700 versus 2.53 GHz on the Xeon E5520 — a 5.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E5520 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T7700 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Xeon E5520 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T7700 scores 2,554 against the Xeon E5520's 2,541 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo T7700. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T7700 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5520.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7700 | Xeon E5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.53 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+6% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,554 | 2,541 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 254 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T7700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E5520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7700 | Xeon E5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7700) / not specified (Xeon E5520). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7700 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7700 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5000+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7700 | Xeon E5520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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