Pentium M 725 vs Core 2 Duo E6550
Pentium M 725
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 M 725 is positioned at rank 141 and the Core 2 Duo E6550 is on rank 1022, so the Pentium M 725 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium M 725
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium M 725 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Dothan (2004−2005) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium M 725 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 M 725 and Core 2 Duo E6550
Pentium M 725
The Pentium M 725 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,400 points. Launch price was $69.
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
The Pentium M 725 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E6550 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Duo E6550 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Pentium M 725 versus 2.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6550 — a 37.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E6550 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.33 GHz). The Pentium M 725 uses the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium M 725 scores 1,400 against the Core 2 Duo E6550's 1,395 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium M 725. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium M 725 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.33 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.33 GHz+46% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 4 MB+100% |
| Process | 90 nm | 65 nm-28% |
| Architecture | Dothan (2004−2005) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,400 | 1,395 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 150 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 150 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium M 725 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-333 on the Pentium M 725 versus 1333 on the Core 2 Duo E6550 — the Core 2 Duo E6550 supports 333.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E6550 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Pentium M 725) vs 2 (Core 2 Duo E6550). PCIe lanes: 0 (Pentium M 725) vs 16 (Core 2 Duo E6550) — the Core 2 Duo E6550 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 855PM (Pentium M 725) and P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6550).
| Feature | Pentium M 725 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-333 | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB+13107100% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: None (Pentium M 725) vs true (Core 2 Duo E6550). Primary use case: Pentium M 725 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6550 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Pentium M 725 | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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