CPU
GPU
Core i3-4000M
Core 2 Duo T9500
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 i3-4000M is positioned at rank 501 and the Core 2 Duo T9500 is on rank 343, so the Core 2 Duo T9500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4000M
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T9500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4000M | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4000M | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-4000M and Core 2 Duo T9500
Core i3-4000M
The Core i3-4000M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,797 points. Launch price was $225.
Core 2 Duo T9500
The Core 2 Duo T9500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 1,799 points. Launch price was $530.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4000M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo T9500's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-4000M versus 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9500 — a 8% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9500 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i3-4000M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T9500 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4000M scores 1,797 against the Core 2 Duo T9500's 1,799 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9500. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4000M vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9500.
| Feature | Core i3-4000M | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.6 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.6 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB L2 Cache+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB+2300% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,797 | 1,799 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4000M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo T9500 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4000M | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-4000M) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9500). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9500 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core i3-4000M | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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