CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E6400
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
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 E6400 is positioned at rank 1059 and the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is on rank 1119, so the Core 2 Duo E6400 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 E6400
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Presler (2005−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+909%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 E6400 and Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Core 2 Duo E6400
The Core 2 Duo E6400 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 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.13 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: 1,175 points. Launch price was $249.
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
The Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 March 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.733 GHz, with boost up to 0.73 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,165 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E6400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.13 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6400 versus 0.73 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — a 97.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E6400 (base: 2.13 GHz vs 3.733 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E6400 uses the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6400 scores 1,175 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 1,165 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6400.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.13 GHz+192% | 0.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 3.733 GHz+75% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Conroe (2006−2007) | Presler (2005−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,175 | 1,165 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E6400) / not specified (Pentium Extreme Edition 965). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6400 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5400+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E6400 launched at $183 MSRP, while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 debuted at $999. At current prices ($10 vs $100), the Core 2 Duo E6400 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E6400 delivers 117.5 pts/$ vs 11.7 pts/$ for the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — making the Core 2 Duo E6400 the 163.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6400 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $183-82% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-90% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 117.5+904% | 11.7 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2006 |
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