Pentium G870 vs Core 2 Duo T5600
Pentium G870
Core 2 Duo T5600
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 G870 is positioned at rank 836 and the Core 2 Duo T5600 is on rank 1179, so the Pentium G870 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G870
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Core 2 Duo T5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Core 2 Duo T5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1509%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) |
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 G870 and Core 2 Duo T5600
Pentium G870
The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.
Core 2 Duo T5600
The Core 2 Duo T5600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 July 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $241.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G870 and Core 2 Duo T5600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 versus 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5600 — a 51.5% clock advantage for the Pentium G870 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.83 GHz). The Pentium G870 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5600 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G870 scores 1,562 against the Core 2 Duo T5600's 1,560 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G870. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G870 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T5600.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Core 2 Duo T5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+69% | 1.83 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+69% | 1.83 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,562 | 1,560 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G870 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T5600 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Core 2 Duo T5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G870 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo T5600 debuted at $241.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Core 2 Duo T5600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-64% | $241 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2006 |
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