Core 2 Duo T9400 vs Pentium D 960

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 T9400 vs Pentium D 960 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 T9400 vs Pentium D 960: 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 T9400

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 130W, a 124W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,004 vs 1,005).

Pentium D 960

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $523 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo T9400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌2066.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 6W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 960 better than Core 2 Duo T9400?

Yes. Pentium D 960 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 960 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium D 960 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?

Pentium D 960 is the better buy right now. Pentium D 960 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $523 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (1.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core 2 Duo T9400 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo T9400 vs Pentium D 960 Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Duo T9400

The Core 2 Duo T9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,004 points. Launch price was $316.

Pentium D 960

The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo T9400 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9400 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 34.9% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9400 scores 1,004 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium D 960. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9400 vs 0 kB on the Pentium D 960.

Feature	Core 2 Duo T9400	Pentium D 960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.53 GHz	3.6 GHz+42%
Base Clock	2.53 GHz	3.6 GHz+42%
L3 Cache	6 MB L2 Cache	0 kB
L2 Cache	6 MB+200%	2 MB (total)
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	1,004	1,005
Geekbench 6 Single	320	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo T9400 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium D 960 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo T9400	Pentium D 960
Socket	PGA478	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9400) / not specified (Pentium D 960). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9400 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.