Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 vs Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
Intel Core 2 Duo P8700
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The Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 is a mid-range dual core processor for laptops. It features 2.53 GHz and a shared level 2 cache of 3 MB. Due to the smaller cache (Core 2 Duo T-Models got usually 6 MB at this clock rate), the TDP is only 25 Watt (instead of the 35 Watt of the T-models). Technically, the P8700 is a slower clocked P8800 CPU.
Due to the relatively high clock speed, modern games (in 2009) should not be limited by the CPU speed (in conjunction with a middle class graphics card). High end gamers should choose a higher clocked Dual Core instead (when using a high end GPU).
The P8700 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 as low as 1200 MHz to save power (in idle mode).
Intel Core 2 Duo T6500
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 is an entry level dual core processor for laptops. It is based on the Penryn core but offers only 2 MB level 2 cache and a slow clock rate of 2.1 GHz. Compared to the Core 2 Duo T6570, the T6500 does not offer Virtualization VT-x and is therefore aimed at consumer notebooks.
The performance should be suited for non demanding applications like office, internet, entry level video editing or image correction. CPU intense games may be limited by the power of the T6500.
Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
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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.
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 → 100% n=13
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 → 87% n=13
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 → 117% n=13

* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation