Core 2 Duo E8235 vs Pentium 957

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.

Core 2 Duo E8235 vs Pentium 957 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo E8235 vs Pentium 957: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo E8235

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌158.8% higher power demand at 44W vs 17W.

Pentium 957

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 44W, a 27W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core 2 Duo E8235 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,015 vs 1,020).
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo E8235 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo E8235 better than Pentium 957?

Yes. Core 2 Duo E8235 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Duo E8235 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E8235 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Duo E8235 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core 2 Duo E8235 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium 957 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 5.7% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium 957 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo E8235 vs Pentium 957 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo E8235

The Core 2 Duo E8235 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,020 points. Launch price was $249.

Pentium 957

The Pentium 957 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,015 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo E8235 and Pentium 957 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8235 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 — a 80% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8235 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8235 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium 957 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8235 scores 1,020 against the Pentium 957's 1,015 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8235.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8235	Pentium 957
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+133%	1.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+133%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	6 MB (total)	256K (per core)+4167%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,020	1,015

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E8235 uses the P socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 957 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8235	Pentium 957
Socket	P	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 2 Duo E8235 was priced at $0, while the Pentium 957 came in at $134. On launch pricing ($0 vs $134), Core 2 Duo E8235 was $134 cheaper.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8235	Pentium 957
MSRP	$0-100%	$134
Performance per Dollar	—	7.6
Release Date	2009	2011

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