Core i5-4278U vs Core 2 Duo SP9600
Core i5-4278U
Core 2 Duo SP9600
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 i5-4278U is positioned at rank 726 and the Core 2 Duo SP9600 is on rank 138, so the Core 2 Duo SP9600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4278U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SP9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4278U | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4278U | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
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 i5-4278U and Core 2 Duo SP9600
Core i5-4278U
The Core i5-4278U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,826 points. Launch price was $315.
Core 2 Duo SP9600
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,836 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4278U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo SP9600's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4278U versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9600 — a 20.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-4278U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Core i5-4278U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4278U scores 2,826 against the Core 2 Duo SP9600's 2,836 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Duo SP9600. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4278U vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SP9600.
| Feature | Core i5-4278U | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+23% | 2.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+3% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 6 MB L2 Cache+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 6 MB+1100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,826 | 2,836 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,688 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 889 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,860 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4278U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4278U | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | BGA479 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-4278U) / not specified (Core 2 Duo SP9600). The Core i5-4278U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i5-4278U | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-4278U and Core 2 Duo SP9600
