Pentium G4500 vs Core 2 Duo SP9600
Pentium G4500
Core 2 Duo SP9600
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 Pentium G4500 is positioned at rank 527 and the Core 2 Duo SP9600 is on rank 138, so the Core 2 Duo SP9600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G4500
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SP9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G4500 | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($34) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G4500 | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+818%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($34) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) |
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 Pentium G4500 and Core 2 Duo SP9600
Pentium G4500
The Pentium G4500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,800 points. Launch price was $82.
Core 2 Duo SP9600
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2009 (16 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: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,836 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G4500 and Core 2 Duo SP9600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Pentium G4500 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9600 — a 32.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G4500 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Pentium G4500 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G4500 scores 2,800 against the Core 2 Duo SP9600's 2,836 — a 1.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo SP9600. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Pentium G4500 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SP9600.
| Feature | Pentium G4500 | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+38% | 2.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+38% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB L2 Cache+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB+2300% |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,800 | 2,836+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G4500 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G4500 | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | BGA479 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G4500 launched at $75 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo SP9600 debuted at $316.
| Feature | Pentium G4500 | Core 2 Duo SP9600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-76% | $316 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $34 | — |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2009 |
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