CPU
GPU
Celeron E3300
Core 2 Duo E8400
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 Celeron E3300 is positioned at rank 724 and the Core 2 Duo E8400 is on rank 508, so the Core 2 Duo E8400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron E3300
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron E3300 | Core 2 Duo E8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron E3300 | Core 2 Duo E8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Celeron E3300 and Core 2 Duo E8400
Celeron E3300
The Celeron E3300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,155 points. Launch price was $70.
Core 2 Duo E8400
The Core 2 Duo E8400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,165 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron E3300 and Core 2 Duo E8400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Celeron E3300 versus 3 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8400 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8400 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Celeron E3300 scores 1,155 against the Core 2 Duo E8400's 1,165 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8400. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron E3300 | Core 2 Duo E8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,155 | 1,165 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 347 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 624 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Celeron E3300 versus 1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8400 — the Core 2 Duo E8400 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E8400 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Celeron E3300) vs 16 (Core 2 Duo E8400) — the Core 2 Duo E8400 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: G31,G41,P45 (Celeron E3300) and P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E8400).
| Feature | Celeron E3300 | Core 2 Duo E8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+52428700% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron E3300) vs true (Core 2 Duo E8400). Primary use case: Celeron E3300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron E3300 rivals Pentium E5200; Core 2 Duo E8400 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Celeron E3300 | Core 2 Duo E8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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