Core 2 Duo E4700 vs Pentium D 960

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 D 960 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 D 960: 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

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $390 less on MSRP ($133 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Delivers 295.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 7.6 vs 1.9 PassMark/$ ($133 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium D 960

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,005 vs 1,011).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.9 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($523 MSRP vs $133 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E4700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo E4700 better than Pentium D 960?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium D 960 is ahead with 38.5% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E4700 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E4700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Core 2 Duo E4700 is the better buy right now. Core 2 Duo E4700 comes in $390 cheaper on MSRP at $133 MSRP versus $523 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Pentium D 960 is still the better pure gaming CPU with 38.5% higher max boost clock. It is also 295.6% better value on MSRP (7.6 vs 1.9 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core 2 Duo E4700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2006) 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 D 960 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 D 960

The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo E4700 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4700 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 32.3% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4700 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4700 scores 1,011 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4700. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium D 960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.6 GHz+38%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.6 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB (total)
Process	65 nm	65 nm
Architecture	Allendale (2006−2009)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	1,011	1,005

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium D 960
Socket	LGA775	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	800	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: false (Core 2 Duo E4700) / not specified (Pentium D 960). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4700 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5000+.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium D 960
Integrated GPU	No	—
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	false	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 2 Duo E4700 was priced at $133, while the Pentium D 960 came in at $523. On launch pricing ($133 vs $523), Core 2 Duo E4700 was $390 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E4700 delivers 7.6 pts/$ vs 1.9 pts/$ for the Pentium D 960 — making the Core 2 Duo E4700 the 119.3% better value option.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E4700	Pentium D 960
MSRP	$133-75%	$523
Performance per Dollar	7.6+300%	1.9
Release Date	2008	2006

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