
Core i7-960 vs Core 2 Duo T5670

Core i7-960

Core 2 Duo T5670
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 i7-960 is positioned at rank 979 and the Core 2 Duo T5670 is on rank 2, so the Core 2 Duo T5670 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5670
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Core 2 Duo T5670 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom-2M (2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Core 2 Duo T5670 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ 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 i7-960 and Core 2 Duo T5670

Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 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: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.

Core 2 Duo T5670
The Core 2 Duo T5670 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom-2M (2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 3,440 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T5670 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i7-960 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 1.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5670 — a 63.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5670 uses Merom-2M (2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the Core 2 Duo T5670's 3,440 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5670. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5670.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Core 2 Duo T5670 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+92% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+78% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+300% | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Merom-2M (2008) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,440+1% |
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