CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E6550
Pentium Silver A1030
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 E6550 is positioned at rank 1022 and the Pentium Silver A1030 is on rank 1140, so the Core 2 Duo E6550 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 E6550
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Silver A1030
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6550 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6550 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E6550 and Pentium Silver A1030
Core 2 Duo E6550
The Core 2 Duo E6550 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 2.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $249.
Pentium Silver A1030
The Pentium Silver A1030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: upto-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,380 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E6550 and Pentium Silver A1030 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6550 versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver A1030 — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Pentium Silver A1030 (base: 2.33 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E6550 is built on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6550 scores 1,395 against the Pentium Silver A1030's 1,380 — a 1.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6550. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E6550 vs 4 MB on the Pentium Silver A1030.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6550 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.33 GHz | 2.7 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.33 GHz+17% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | — |
| Process | 65 nm | 14 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Conroe (2006−2007) | — |
| PassMark | 1,395+1% | 1,380 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E6550 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium Silver A1030 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6550 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1090 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E6550) / not specified (Pentium Silver A1030). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6550 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6550 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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