Core 2 Duo T9600
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Core i3-350M
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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.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
Core 2 Duo T9600
2008Why buy it
- ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).
- ✅Draws 6W instead of 35W, a 29W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (1,087 vs 1,088).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-350M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Core i3-350M
2010Why buy it
- ✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Core 2 Duo T9600 needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $130 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo T9600 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌483.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 6W.
Core 2 Duo T9600
2008Core i3-350M
2010Why buy it
- ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).
- ✅Draws 6W instead of 35W, a 29W reduction.
Why buy it
- ✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Core 2 Duo T9600 needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (1,087 vs 1,088).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-350M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $130 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo T9600 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌483.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 6W.
Quick Answers
So, is Core i3-350M better than Core 2 Duo T9600?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 26 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| medium | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| high | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 27 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo T9600 and Core i3-350M
Core 2 Duo T9600
Core 2 Duo T9600
The Core 2 Duo T9600 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,087 points. Launch price was $316.
Core i3-350M
Core i3-350M
The Core i3-350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.27 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,088 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-350M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9600 versus 0.27 GHz on the Core i3-350M — a 164.8% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9600 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-350M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9600 scores 1,087 against the Core i3-350M's 1,088 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-350M. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9600 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-350M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+937% | 0.27 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+24% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+100% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,087 | 1,088 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 280 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-350M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | No |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T9600) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-350M). The Core i3-350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo T9600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-350M targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-350M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9600 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Entry Laptop |
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