Core i5-680 vs Core 2 Duo P8600

Core i5-680

2 Cores4 Thrd73 WWMax: 3.86 GHz2010

Core 2 Duo P8600

2 Cores2 Thrd3 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2008

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-680

2 / 4

2,620

+0.1%

2,618

0.0%

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 i5-680 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Core 2 Duo P8600 is on rank 160, so the Core 2 Duo P8600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-680

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

34985%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

33057%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

24002%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

7231%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

5728%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

5011%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

2870%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

2832%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

2579%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

2579%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

2550%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

2481%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

2446%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

2436%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

2414%

#1014

Core i5-680

MSRP: $294|Avg: $10

100%

#1015

Core 2 Duo E4300

MSRP: $113|Avg: $5

100%

#1017

Core 2 Duo E4500

MSRP: $133|Avg: $10

98%

#1019

Core 2 Duo E7600

MSRP: $133|Avg: $50

97%

#1020

Core i7-3970X

MSRP: $990|Avg: $60

97%

#1021

Core 2 Duo E8700

MSRP: $256|Avg: $30

97%

#1022

Core 2 Duo E6550

MSRP: $163|Avg: $20

96%

#1023

Phenom X3 8450

MSRP: $145|Avg: $147

95%

#1024

Core i7-3960X

MSRP: $999|Avg: $60

94%

#1025

Celeron 2.70

MSRP: $49|Avg: $49

93%

#1027

A10 PRO-7850B

MSRP: $426|Avg: $140

91%

#1028

Core 2 Quad Q8200

MSRP: $224|Avg: $36

91%

#1029

A12-9800E

MSRP: $426|Avg: $150

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P8600

#148

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

336%

#149

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

331%

#150

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

304%

#151

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

303%

#152

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

300%

#154

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

290%

#155

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

278%

#156

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

277%

#157

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

270%

#160

Core 2 Duo P8600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#173

Celeron N3060

MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-680 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core 2 Duo P8600 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.1% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i5-680	Core 2 Duo P8600
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($10)	✅ More affordable ($0)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i5-680	Core 2 Duo P8600
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($10)	✅ More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-680 Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo P8600 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-680 and Core 2 Duo P8600

Core i5-680

The Core i5-680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.86 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,620 points. Launch price was $272.

Core 2 Duo P8600

The Core 2 Duo P8600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,618 points. Launch price was $209.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-680 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo P8600's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.86 GHz on the Core i5-680 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8600 — a 46.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-680 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-680 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P8600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-680 scores 2,620 against the Core 2 Duo P8600's 2,618 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-680. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-680 vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P8600.

Feature	Core i5-680	Core 2 Duo P8600
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.86 GHz+61%	2.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+50%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)+33%	3 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	3 MB+1100%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	2,620	2,618

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-680 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo P8600 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i5-680 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i5-680	Core 2 Duo P8600
Socket	LGA1156	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-680) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo P8600). The Core i5-680 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo P8600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-680 targets Desktop.