Core 2 Duo T9400 vs Pentium E5400
Core 2 Duo T9400
Pentium E5400
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 T9400 is positioned at rank 796 and the Pentium E5400 is on rank 830, so the Core 2 Duo T9400 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 T9400
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9400 | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9400 | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
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 T9400 and Pentium E5400
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 E5400
The Pentium E5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $55.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T9400 and Pentium E5400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9400 versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium E5400 — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Pentium E5400 (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium E5400 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9400 scores 1,004 against the Pentium E5400's 1,007 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium E5400. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9400 vs 0 kB on the Pentium E5400.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9400 | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.7 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.7 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+200% | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,004 | 1,007 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 320 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9400 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium E5400 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9400 | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9400) / not specified (Pentium E5400). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9400 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9400 | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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