Page Index

Core 2 Duo E7400 vs Pentium E6300

CPUCPUGPUGPU
Intel

Core 2 Duo E7400

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2008

Popular choices:

•••••••••
VS
Intel

Pentium E6300

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2009

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 2 Duo E7400
2 / 2
1,043
+1.1%
brand logoCeleron U3400
brand logoCore 2 Duo L7200
brand logoCeleron 877
brand logoCeleron P4505
brand logoCore i5-12490F
brand logoCore Ultra 5 245HX
brand logoXeon W-3375
brand logoXeon w9-3575X
Pentium E6300
2 / 2
1,032
0.0%
brand logoCeleron U3400
brand logoCore 2 Duo L7200
brand logoCeleron B820
brand logoCeleron P4505
brand logoCore i5-12490F
brand logoCore Ultra 5 245HX
brand logoXeon W-3375
brand logoXeon w9-3575X

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core 2 Duo E7400

2008

Why buy it

  • ✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
  • ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • ✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Pentium E6300.

Trade-offs

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

Pentium E6300

2009

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Lower PassMark (1,032 vs 1,043).
    • ❌Launch MSRP is still $84 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo E7400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
    • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E7400.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core 2 Duo E7400 better than Pentium E6300?
    Yes. Core 2 Duo E7400 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E7400 is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core 2 Duo E7400 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core 2 Duo E7400 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $84 MSRP, and it gives you 1.1% higher PassMark. Pentium E6300 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (12.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Pentium E6300 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

    Games Benchmarks

    Paired with RTX 4090

    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.

    Path of Exile 2

    Path of Exile 2

    PresetCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    1080p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    1440p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    4K
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    Open Core 2 Duo E7400Open Pentium E6300
    Counter-Strike 2

    Counter-Strike 2

    PresetCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    1080p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    1440p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    4K
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    Open Core 2 Duo E7400Open Pentium E6300
    League of Legends

    League of Legends

    PresetCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    1080p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    1440p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    4K
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    Open Core 2 Duo E7400Open Pentium E6300
    Valorant

    Valorant

    PresetCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    1080p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    1440p
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    4K
    low26 FPS26 FPS
    medium26 FPS26 FPS
    high26 FPS26 FPS
    ultra26 FPS26 FPS
    Open Core 2 Duo E7400Open Pentium E6300
    Check FPS for your specific build

    Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo E7400 and Pentium E6300

    Intel

    Core 2 Duo E7400

    The Core 2 Duo E7400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. 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: 3 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,043 points. Launch price was $249.

    Intel

    Pentium E6300

    The Pentium E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 May 2009 (16 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: 1,032 points. Launch price was $40.

    ⚡

    Processing Power

    Both the Core 2 Duo E7400 and Pentium E6300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7400 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E6300 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7400 scores 1,043 against the Pentium E6300's 1,032 — a 1.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7400. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

    FeatureCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 2
    Boost Clock
    2.8 GHz
    2.8 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.8 GHz
    2.8 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    0 kB
    L2 Cache
    3 MB (total)+50%
    2 MB (total)
    Process
    45 nm
    45 nm
    Architecture
    Wolfdale (2008−2010)
    Wolfdale (2008−2010)
    PassMark
    1,043+1%
    1,032
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.

    FeatureCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    Socket
    LGA775
    LGA775
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 1.1
    Max RAM Speed
    1066
    —
    Max RAM Capacity
    16
    —
    RAM Channels
    2
    —
    ECC Support
    No
    —
    PCIe Lanes
    16
    —
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E7400) / not specified (Pentium E6300). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7400 rivals Athlon II X2 245.

    FeatureCore 2 Duo E7400Pentium E6300
    Integrated GPU
    No
    —
    IGPU Model
    None
    —
    Unlocked
    No
    —
    AVX-512
    No
    —
    Virtualization
    true
    —