CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo T9500
Athlon II X4 600e
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 T9500 is positioned at rank 343 and the Athlon II X4 600e is on rank 842, so the Core 2 Duo T9500 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 T9500
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 600e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Athlon II X4 600e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Athlon II X4 600e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 T9500 and Athlon II X4 600e
Core 2 Duo T9500
The Core 2 Duo T9500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 1,799 points. Launch price was $530.
Athlon II X4 600e
The Athlon II X4 600e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,795 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 600e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 600e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9500 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X4 600e — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9500 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 600e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9500 scores 1,799 against the Athlon II X4 600e's 1,795 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9500. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9500 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 600e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Athlon II X4 600e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,799 | 1,795 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X4 600e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo T9500) and Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 600e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Athlon II X4 600e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9500) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 600e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9500 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Athlon II X4 600e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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