Intel Core 2 Duo P9600 vs Intel Core i5-430M vs Intel Core 2 Duo T8100
Intel Core 2 Duo P9600
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo P9600 was a upper middle class dual core CPU for laptops, at the time of introduction. It is similar to the Core 2 Duo T9550 except for the lower TDP of 25 versus 35 Watt).
Due to the relatively high clock speed and 6MB Level 2 cache, the P9600 offers enough performance for demanding games (in 2009) and applications. The newer Core i3-330M should deliver a similar performance due to the hyperthreading support.
The P9600 uses a Penryn (Montevina Update) core that features 2 integer units, 1 floating point unit, 1 load unit, and 1 store unit in a 14-stages long pipeline. Due to the Wide Dynamic Execution Technology, the core is able to simultaneously execute up to four instructions.
The integrated Enhanced Speedstep is able to downclock the core dynamically to save power (in idle mode).
Intel Core i5-430M
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core i5-430M is a fast middle class dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.26 to 2.53 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7-620M, the 430M only has 3 MB Level 3 Cache, missing VT-d, Trusted Execution, and AES features and a lower clock speed.
A feature of the new Core i5-430M is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.
Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the Core i5-430M is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. In fact, the 430M even came close to a fast Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.8 GHz) in some benchmarks (e.g. Cinebench 10 Multi Threaded). This means the 430M is a fast middle class - performance CPU and much faster than the top AMD model, the Turion II Ultra M660 (at the time of announcement).
The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Still, these functions are deactivated on the Core i5-430M leading to some performance drawbacks in modern applications that support AES encoding using the new instructions (e.g. the Communications Suite test in the PCMark Vantage boosts up to 70% using AES in the faster Core i5-520M).
The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 500-766 MHz (Turbo Boost) and is clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now). The Turbo Boost can overclock the Intel HD Graphics up to 733 MHz when the cores are not fully used.
The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone).
Intel Core 2 Duo T8100
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 is a mid-range dual-core processor for laptops from 2008. It is based on the Penryn core and offers all functions that were available at that time (e.g. Virtualization VT-x).
Model | Intel Core 2 Duo P9600 | Intel Core i5-430M | Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codename | Penryn | Arrandale | Penryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series: Core 2 Duo Penryn |
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Clock | 2660 MHz | 2260 - 2533 MHz | 2100 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FSB | 1066 | 2500 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L2 Cache | 6 MB | 512 KB | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TDP | 25 Watt | 35 Watt | 35 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transistors | 410 Million | 177 Million | 410 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 nm, 1.05-1.212V | 32 nm | 45 nm, 1.000V-1.250V | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Die Size | 107 mm2 | 144 mm2 | 107 mm2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
max. Temp. | 105 °C | 105 °C | 105 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Socket | PGA478 | BGA1288, PGA988 | BGA479, PGA478 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Features | Virtualization Technology (VT-x), Trusted Execution, Intel 64, Enhanced Speedstep, Execute Disable Bit | Turbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 500-733MHz, SSE4.1, SSE4.2 | Virtualization VT-x, Enhanced Speedstep, Execute Disable Bit, Idle States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$348 U.S. | $209 U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L3 Cache | 3 MB |