Pentium G6951 vs Core 2 Duo E6550
Pentium G6951
Core 2 Duo E6550
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 G6951 is positioned at rank 892 and the Core 2 Duo E6550 is on rank 1022, so the Pentium G6951 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6951
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+152%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 G6951 and Core 2 Duo E6550
Pentium G6951
The Pentium G6951 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,383 points. Launch price was $94.
Core 2 Duo E6550
The Core 2 Duo E6550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G6951 and Core 2 Duo E6550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G6951 versus 2.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6550 — a 18.3% clock advantage for the Pentium G6951 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.33 GHz). The Pentium G6951 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G6951 scores 1,383 against the Core 2 Duo E6550's 1,395 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6550. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G6951 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E6550.
| Feature | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+20% | 2.33 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+20% | 2.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,383 | 1,395 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G6951 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G6951) / true (Core 2 Duo E6550). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6550 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G6951 launched at $89 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E6550 debuted at $163. At current prices ($50 vs $20), the Core 2 Duo E6550 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G6951 delivers 27.7 pts/$ vs 69.8 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E6550 — making the Core 2 Duo E6550 the 86.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G6951 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $89-45% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $20-60% |
| Performance per Dollar | 27.7 | 69.8+152% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2007 |
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