Core 2 Duo T9900 vs Celeron N3160
Core 2 Duo T9900
Celeron N3160
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 N3160 is on rank 697, so the Core 2 Duo T9900 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 N3160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron N3160 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Braswell (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron N3160 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 N3160
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 N3160
The Celeron N3160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,195 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9900 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Celeron N3160 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N3160 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9900 versus 2.24 GHz on the Celeron N3160 — a 187.9% clock advantage for the Celeron N3160 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9900 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N3160 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9900 scores 1,204 against the Celeron N3160's 1,195 — a 0.8% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9900. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9900 vs 0 kB on the Celeron N3160.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron N3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.24 GHz+3100% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+91% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Braswell (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,204 | 1,195 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9900 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron N3160 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron N3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T9900) / true (Celeron N3160). The Celeron N3160 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 400), while the Core 2 Duo T9900 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Celeron N3160 rivals AMD E2-9010.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9900 | Celeron N3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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