Core 2 Duo E6300 vs Pentium E5500
Core 2 Duo E6300
Pentium E5500
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 E6300 is positioned at rank 1058 and the Pentium E5500 is on rank 913, so the Pentium E5500 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 E6300
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+396%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 E6300 and Pentium E5500
Core 2 Duo E6300
The Core 2 Duo E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 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: 1,055 points. Launch price was $249.
Pentium E5500
The Pentium E5500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,064 points. Launch price was $109.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E6300 and Pentium E5500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E5500 — a 39.8% clock advantage for the Pentium E5500 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E6300 uses the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium E5500 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6300 scores 1,055 against the Pentium E5500's 1,064 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium E5500. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 2.8 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.8 GHz+51% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Conroe (2006−2007) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,055 | 1,064 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E6300) / not specified (Pentium E5500). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6300 rivals Athlon 64 X2 3800+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E6300 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Pentium E5500 debuted at $75. At current prices ($5 vs $25), the Core 2 Duo E6300 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E6300 delivers 211.0 pts/$ vs 42.6 pts/$ for the Pentium E5500 — making the Core 2 Duo E6300 the 132.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Pentium E5500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163 | $75-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-80% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 211.0+395% | 42.6 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2010 |
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