Core 2 Duo E4700 vs Pentium B960

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.

Core 2 Duo E4700 vs Pentium B960 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo E4700 vs Pentium B960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo E4700

2008

Why buy it

✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($133 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Pentium B960.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,011 vs 1,019).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium B960 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium B960

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Core 2 Duo E4700 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
0.8% HIGHER MSRP
$134 MSRPvs$133 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E4700.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium B960 better than Core 2 Duo E4700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core 2 Duo E4700 is ahead with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium B960 pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium B960 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium B960 is the better buy right now. Pentium B960 comes in 0.8% more expensive on MSRP at $134 MSRP versus $133 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core 2 Duo E4700 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 0.0% better value on MSRP (7.6 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium B960 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 2 Duo E4700 vs Pentium B960 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo E4700

The Core 2 Duo E4700 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 1,011 points. Launch price was $249.

Pentium B960

The Pentium B960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,019 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo E4700 and Pentium B960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4700 versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E4700 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4700 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium B960 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4700 scores 1,011 against the Pentium B960's 1,019 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium B960. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4700 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B960.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium B960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+18%	2.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+18%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB	256K (per core)+12700%
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Allendale (2006−2009)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,011	1,019
Geekbench 6 Single	—	383
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	679

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E4700 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium B960 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Core 2 Duo E4700 versus DDR3-1333 on the Pentium B960 — the Pentium B960 supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E4700) and HM76 (Pentium B960).

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium B960
Socket	LGA775	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	800	DDR3-1333+67%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization: false (Core 2 Duo E4700) / not specified (Pentium B960). The Pentium B960 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Core 2 Duo E4700 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4700 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5000+; Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium B960
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	false	—
Target Use	—	Budget

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 2 Duo E4700 was priced at $133, while the Pentium B960 came in at $134. On launch pricing ($133 vs $134), Core 2 Duo E4700 was $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E4700 delivers 7.6 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Pentium B960 — making the Pentium B960 the 0% better value option.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium B960
MSRP	$133	$134
Performance per Dollar	7.6	7.6
Release Date	2008	2011

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