Core i5-450M vs Core 2 Duo U7600
Core i5-450M
Core 2 Duo U7600
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 i5-450M is positioned at rank 10 and the Core 2 Duo U7600 is on rank 1206, so the Core i5-450M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-450M
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo U7600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom-2048 (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+520%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 i5-450M and Core 2 Duo U7600
Core i5-450M
The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.
Core 2 Duo U7600
The Core 2 Duo U7600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom-2048 (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,263 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Core i5-450M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo U7600's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M versus 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo U7600 — a 75.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-450M (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-450M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo U7600 uses Merom-2048 (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-450M scores 1,264 against the Core 2 Duo U7600's 1,263 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-450M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-450M vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo U7600.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz+122% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+100% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Merom-2048 (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,264 | 1,263 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-450M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo U7600 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA479 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-450M) / not specified (Core 2 Duo U7600). The Core i5-450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Core 2 Duo U7600 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-450M launched at $32 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo U7600 debuted at $250. At current prices ($31 vs $5), the Core 2 Duo U7600 is $26 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-450M delivers 40.8 pts/$ vs 252.6 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo U7600 — making the Core 2 Duo U7600 the 144.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Core 2 Duo U7600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $32-87% | $250 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $31 | $5-84% |
| Performance per Dollar | 40.8 | 252.6+519% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2006 |
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