
Core 2 Duo T9800 vs Core i7-680UM

Core 2 Duo T9800

Core i7-680UM
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 T9800 is positioned at rank 345 and the Core i7-680UM is on rank 1036, so the Core 2 Duo T9800 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 T9800
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-680UM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9800 | Core i7-680UM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9800 | Core i7-680UM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 T9800 and Core i7-680UM

Core 2 Duo T9800
The Core 2 Duo T9800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 2.92 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: 1,189 points. Launch price was $530.

Core i7-680UM
The Core i7-680UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.46 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,196 points. Launch price was $317.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9800 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-680UM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.92 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9800 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core i7-680UM — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9800 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 1.46 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9800 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-680UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9800 scores 1,189 against the Core i7-680UM's 1,196 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-680UM. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9800 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-680UM.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9800 | Core i7-680UM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.92 GHz+15% | 2.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz+101% | 1.46 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,189 | 1,196 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9800 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i7-680UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9800 | Core i7-680UM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | BGA1288 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
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