
Core i3-7020U vs Core 2 Duo T7700

Core i3-7020U

Core 2 Duo T7700
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 i3-7020U is positioned at rank 70 and the Core 2 Duo T7700 is on rank 484, so the Core i3-7020U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7020U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T7700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7020U | Core 2 Duo T7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7020U | Core 2 Duo T7700 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-7020U and Core 2 Duo T7700

Core i3-7020U
The Core i3-7020U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,567 points. Launch price was $281.

Core 2 Duo T7700
The Core 2 Duo T7700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,554 points. Launch price was $307.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7020U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo T7700's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-7020U versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7700 — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T7700 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-7020U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T7700 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7020U scores 2,567 against the Core 2 Duo T7700's 2,554 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-7020U. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-7020U vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T7700.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | Core 2 Duo T7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.4 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.4 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-78% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,567 | 2,554 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 254 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7020U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo T7700 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | Core 2 Duo T7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-7020U) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7700). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7700 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7700 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5000+.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | Core 2 Duo T7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.











