
Core i7-610E vs Core 2 Duo T7250

Core i7-610E

Core 2 Duo T7250
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 i7-610E is positioned at rank 1125 and the Core 2 Duo T7250 is on rank 20, so the Core 2 Duo T7250 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-610E
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T7250
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-610E | Core 2 Duo T7250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-610E | Core 2 Duo T7250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-610E and Core 2 Duo T7250

Core i7-610E
The Core i7-610E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 2,071 points. Launch price was $332.

Core 2 Duo T7250
The Core 2 Duo T7250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,073 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Core i7-610E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo T7250's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-610E versus 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7250 — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-610E (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-610E uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T7250 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-610E scores 2,071 against the Core 2 Duo T7250's 2,073 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T7250. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-610E vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T7250.
| Feature | Core i7-610E | Core 2 Duo T7250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+60% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz+26% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,071 | 2,073 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-610E uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T7250 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-610E | Core 2 Duo T7250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-610E) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7250). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7250 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7250 rivals Athlon 64 X2 TK-42.
| Feature | Core i7-610E | Core 2 Duo T7250 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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