Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 vs Intel Core i5-2450M vs Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
Intel Core 2 Duo T6400
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 is an entry level dual core processor for cheap laptops. It is based on the Penryn core but offers only 2 MB level 2 cache and a slow clock speed of 2 GHz. The performance should be sufficient for office and other casual tasks but high level gaming and HD video editing for example could be limited by the CPU performance.
Intel Core i5-2450M
► remove from comparison
The Intel Core i5-2450M is a fast dual core processor that first appeared in Dell laptops in 11/2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7, the i5 offers a smaller last level cache of 3MB. The base clock speed is 2.5 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 2.8 GHz (2 cores active) and 3.1 GHz (1 core active). Compared to the 2510M, the 2450M does not support VT-d and Trusted Execution functions. However, the integrated gpu offers a higher Turbo Boost clock rate.
Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements is the improved Turbo Boost 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core.
The i5-2450M offers an integrated graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 3000) which is clearly faster then the older Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs. As the new GPU is included in the CPU, it is also manufactured in 32nm and shares the fast level 3 cache with the CPU cores (using a new ring bus). In the 2435M it is clocked with 650 or 1300MHz (with Turbo Boost).
Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included on the CPU die that is used by the CPU and GPU part.
Due to the improved architecture and the new Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i5-2450M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. Looking at benchmarks of slower clocked Core i5 CPUs, the i5-2450M should position itself slightly above the old Core i5-620M and is therefore suited even for demanding tasks.
The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller.
Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
► remove from comparison
The Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 is a high end dual core CPU for laptops (at the time of introduction). Compared to the faster T9900 it does not support the new power saving C1E state. The newer Core 2 Duo P9700 offers a similar performance but features a lower TDP of 28 Watt.
Due to the high clock speed, the T9600 offers enough performance for demanding games (in 2009) and applications.
The T9600 uses a Penryn 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 (in idle mode).
The Core 2 Duo T9600 can be used in a Socket P socket with 479 pins.
| Model | Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 | Intel Core i5-2450M | Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Penryn | Sandy Bridge | Penryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Core 2 Duo Penryn |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clock | 2000 MHz | 2500 - 3100 MHz | 2800 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FSB | 800 | 1066 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 512 KB | 6 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 35 Watt | 35 Watt | 35 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 45 nm | 32 nm | 45 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 105 °C | 100 °C | 105 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | PGA478 | PPGA988 | Socket P (BGA479, PGA478) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), Intel 64, XD bit (an NX bit implementation), IDA (Intel Dynamic Acceleration) | HD Graphics 3000, DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistors | 624 Million | 410 Million | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Die Size | 149 mm2 | 107 mm2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $225 U.S. | $316 U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voltage | 1.05-1.2125 V V |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 → 100% n=11
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2450M → 219% n=11
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 → 147% n=11
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
Add as a preferred