CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E4300
Pentium 2117U
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 Core 2 Duo E4300 is positioned at rank 1015 and the Pentium 2117U is on rank 117, so the Pentium 2117U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4300
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 2117U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 2117U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 2117U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ 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.
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo E4300 and Pentium 2117U
Core 2 Duo E4300
The Core 2 Duo E4300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $249.
Pentium 2117U
The Pentium 2117U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,009 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4300 and Pentium 2117U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4300 versus 1.8 GHz on the Pentium 2117U — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.8 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4300 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium 2117U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4300 scores 1,005 against the Pentium 2117U's 1,009 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium 2117U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4300 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 2117U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,005 | 1,009 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 2117U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 2117U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | 800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: false (Core 2 Duo E4300) / not specified (Pentium 2117U). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4300 rivals Athlon 64 X2 3800+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 2117U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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