CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E7500
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 E7500 is positioned at rank 992 and the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is on rank 1119, so the Core 2 Duo E7500 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 E7500
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Presler (2005−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+893%) | ❌ 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 E7500 and Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Core 2 Duo E7500
The Core 2 Duo E7500 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 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 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: 1,157 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 E7500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7500 versus 0.73 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — a 24.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7500 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 3.733 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E7500 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7500 scores 1,157 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 1,165 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium Extreme Edition 965.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz+27% | 0.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.733 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Presler (2005−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,157 | 1,165 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: None (Core 2 Duo E7500) / not specified (Pentium Extreme Edition 965).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | None | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E7500 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 debuted at $999. At current prices ($10 vs $100), the Core 2 Duo E7500 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E7500 delivers 115.7 pts/$ vs 11.7 pts/$ for the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — making the Core 2 Duo E7500 the 163.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $113-89% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-90% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 115.7+889% | 11.7 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2006 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo E7500 and Pentium Extreme Edition 965
