Core 2 Duo T9900 vs Celeron 3965Y
Core 2 Duo T9900
Celeron 3965Y
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 T9900 is positioned at rank 635 and the Celeron 3965Y is on rank 198, so the Celeron 3965Y 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 T9900
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3965Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron 3965Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron 3965Y |
|---|---|---|
| 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 T9900 and Celeron 3965Y
Core 2 Duo T9900
The Core 2 Duo T9900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,204 points. Launch price was $530.
Celeron 3965Y
The Celeron 3965Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,201 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T9900 and Celeron 3965Y share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9900 versus 1.3 GHz on the Celeron 3965Y — a 179.6% clock advantage for the Celeron 3965Y (base: 3.06 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9900 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 3965Y uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9900 scores 1,204 against the Celeron 3965Y's 1,201 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9900. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9900 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 3965Y.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron 3965Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1.3 GHz+1757% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+104% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache+200% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,204 | 1,201 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 372 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 708 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9900 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 3965Y uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron 3965Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FCBGA1515 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 10 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T9900) / VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3965Y). The Celeron 3965Y includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 615), while the Core 2 Duo T9900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3965Y targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron 3965Y rivals Pentium Gold 4415Y.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron 3965Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 615 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
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