Core 2 Duo E7600 vs Celeron E3300
Core 2 Duo E7600
Celeron E3300
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 E7600 is positioned at rank 1019 and the Celeron E3300 is on rank 724, so the Celeron E3300 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 E7600
Performance Per Dollar Celeron E3300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+402%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 E7600 and Celeron E3300
Core 2 Duo E7600
The Core 2 Duo E7600 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 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 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: 1,150 points. Launch price was $249.
Celeron E3300
The Celeron E3300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,155 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E7600 and Celeron E3300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7600 versus 2.5 GHz on the Celeron E3300 — a 189.1% clock advantage for the Celeron E3300 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7600 scores 1,150 against the Celeron E3300's 1,155 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron E3300. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 422 vs 347, a 19.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 690 vs 624 (10% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7600). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.5 GHz+3471% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+22% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+200% | 1 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,150 | 1,155 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 422+22% | 347 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 690+11% | 624 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Core 2 Duo E7600 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo E7600) vs 0 (Celeron E3300) — the Core 2 Duo E7600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P45,P43,G45,G43,P35,G33 (Core 2 Duo E7600) and G31,G41,P45 (Celeron E3300).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E7600 targets Legacy Desktop, Celeron E3300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7600 rivals Athlon II X2 250; Celeron E3300 rivals Pentium E5200.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E7600 launched at $133 MSRP, while the Celeron E3300 debuted at $50. At current prices ($50 vs $10), the Celeron E3300 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E7600 delivers 23.0 pts/$ vs 115.5 pts/$ for the Celeron E3300 — making the Celeron E3300 the 133.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7600 | Celeron E3300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $133 | $50-62% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $10-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 23.0 | 115.5+402% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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