Core 2 Duo E8300 vs Celeron N2930
Core 2 Duo E8300
Celeron N2930
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 E8300 is positioned at rank 1060 and the Celeron N2930 is on rank 1087, so the Core 2 Duo E8300 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 E8300
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N2930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Celeron N2930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Celeron N2930 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E8300 and Celeron N2930
Core 2 Duo E8300
The Core 2 Duo E8300 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 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,039 points. Launch price was $249.
Celeron N2930
The Celeron N2930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.16 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E8300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Celeron N2930 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N2930 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus 2.16 GHz on the Celeron N2930 — a 26.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300 (base: 2.83 GHz vs 1.83 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N2930 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8300 scores 1,039 against the Celeron N2930's 1,032 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 345 vs 170, a 68% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 771 vs 502 (42.3% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Celeron N2930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.83 GHz+31% | 2.16 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.83 GHz+55% | 1.83 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,039 | 1,032 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 345+103% | 170 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 771+54% | 502 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron N2930 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core 2 Duo E8300 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 E8300) vs 4 (Celeron N2930) — the Core 2 Duo E8300 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,G33,G31 (Core 2 Duo E8300) and SoC (Celeron N2930).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Celeron N2930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3L-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300) vs Yes (Celeron N2930). The Celeron N2930 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo E8300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Celeron N2930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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