Core 2 Duo T9500 vs Xeon E5503
Core 2 Duo T9500
Xeon E5503
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 Xeon E5503 is on rank 895, 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 Xeon E5503
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 T9500 and Xeon E5503
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.
Xeon E5503
The Xeon E5503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 1,815 points. Launch price was $287.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T9500 and Xeon E5503 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9500 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5503 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9500 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5503 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9500 scores 1,799 against the Xeon E5503's 1,815 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5503. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9500 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5503.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+30% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+30% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,799 | 1,815 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E5503 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9500) / not specified (Xeon E5503). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9500 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9500 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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