Core i7-920 vs Core 2 Duo P9500
Core i7-920
Core 2 Duo P9500
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 i7-920 is positioned at rank 997 and the Core 2 Duo P9500 is on rank 354, so the Core 2 Duo P9500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-920
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P9500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-920 | Core 2 Duo P9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($79) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-920 | Core 2 Duo P9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($79) | ✅ 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 i7-920 and Core 2 Duo P9500
Core i7-920
The Core i7-920 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,866 points. Launch price was $340.
Core 2 Duo P9500
The Core 2 Duo P9500 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 2.53 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: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,901 points. Launch price was $348.
Processing Power
The Core i7-920 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core 2 Duo P9500 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i7-920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-920 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9500 — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-920 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Core i7-920 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P9500 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-920 scores 2,866 against the Core 2 Duo P9500's 2,901 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo P9500. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-920 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9500.
| Feature | Core i7-920 | Core 2 Duo P9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz+16% | 2.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+5% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 6 MB+2300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,866 | 2,901+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 340 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-920 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo P9500 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-920 | Core 2 Duo P9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-920) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo P9500). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo P9500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo P9500 rivals Athlon II X2 245e.
| Feature | Core i7-920 | Core 2 Duo P9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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