
Core 2 Extreme QX9300 vs Celeron Dual-Core T3000

Core 2 Extreme QX9300

Celeron Dual-Core T3000
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 Extreme QX9300 is positioned at rank 924 and the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 is on rank 824, so the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 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 Extreme QX9300
Performance Per Dollar Celeron Dual-Core T3000
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 | Celeron Dual-Core T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn-1M (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 | Celeron Dual-Core T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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.

Counter-Strike 2

Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Celeron Dual-Core T3000

Core 2 Extreme QX9300
The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,805 points. Launch price was $249.

Celeron Dual-Core T3000
The Celeron Dual-Core T3000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Penryn-1M (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,797 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 versus 1.8 GHz on the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 — a 33.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme QX9300. The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 uses Penryn-1M (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 scores 1,805 against the Celeron Dual-Core T3000's 1,797 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Extreme QX9300.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 | Celeron Dual-Core T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz+41% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 12 MB+1100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Penryn-1M (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,805 | 1,797 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron Dual-Core T3000 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 | Celeron Dual-Core T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | P |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Extreme QX9300) / false (Celeron Dual-Core T3000).
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 | Celeron Dual-Core T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | false |
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