CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E4300
Pentium 957
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 957 is on rank 1146, so the Core 2 Duo E4300 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 957
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+98%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 Core 2 Duo E4300 and Pentium 957
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 957
The Pentium 957 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,015 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4300 and Pentium 957 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4300 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 — a 40% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E4300 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4300 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium 957 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4300 scores 1,005 against the Pentium 957's 1,015 — a 1% lead for the Pentium 957. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4300 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 957.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz+50% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz+50% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,005 | 1,015 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 957 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| 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 957). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4300 rivals Athlon 64 X2 3800+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E4300 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Pentium 957 debuted at $134. At current prices ($5 vs $10), the Core 2 Duo E4300 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E4300 delivers 201.0 pts/$ vs 101.5 pts/$ for the Pentium 957 — making the Core 2 Duo E4300 the 65.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4300 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $113-16% | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-50% | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 201.0+98% | 101.5 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2011 |
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