Core 2 Duo E8300 vs Core i5-12400F

Core 2 Duo E8300

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.83 GHz2008

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 2 Duo E8300

2 / 2

1,039

0.0%

19,532

+1779.9%

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. The Core 2 Duo E8300 is positioned at rank #1060 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8300

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

48935%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

46239%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

33573%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

10114%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

8011%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

7008%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

4014%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

3962%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

3607%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

3607%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

3567%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

3470%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

3422%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

3408%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

3377%

#1060

Core 2 Duo E8300

MSRP: $163|Avg: $20

100%

#1061

Phenom X4 9500

MSRP: $247|Avg: $30

99%

#1062

Celeron D 352

MSRP: $69|Avg: $15

95%

#1063

Core i7-970

MSRP: $1083|Avg: $289

95%

#1064

Core i7-880

MSRP: $583|Avg: $40

92%

#1065

Pentium D 820

MSRP: $241|Avg: $20

92%

#1066

Celeron 2.10

MSRP: $49|Avg: $49

91%

#1067

Core i7-950

MSRP: $562|Avg: $15

91%

#1068

Sempron 3100+

MSRP: $65|Avg: $15

90%

#1069

Athlon II X4 635

MSRP: $400|Avg: $250

88%

#1070

Core 2 Duo E6750

MSRP: $183|Avg: $15

88%

#1071

Core i7-940

MSRP: $562|Avg: $90

85%

#1072

Celeron 2.40

MSRP: $69|Avg: $13

78%

#1073

Sempron 2800+

MSRP: $65|Avg: $29

77%

#1074

Athlon 64 3100+

MSRP: $100|Avg: $15

75%

#1075

Sempron 3600+

MSRP: $105|Avg: $20

73%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

121%

#16

Core Ultra 5 225F

MSRP: $231|Avg: $150

118%

#17

Core Ultra 7 265K

MSRP: $309|Avg: $285

116%

#18

Ryzen 9 3900

MSRP: $499|Avg: $150

115%

#19

Ryzen 5 3600X

MSRP: $249|Avg: $90

113%

#20

Core i7-14700KF

MSRP: $384|Avg: $260

113%

#21

Core i7-14700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $270

109%

#22

Ryzen 5 4500

MSRP: $129|Avg: $85

106%

#23

Ryzen 5 5600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $115

106%

#24

Celeron G5925

MSRP: $62|Avg: $15

105%

#25

Ryzen 5 7500F

MSRP: $179|Avg: $145

104%

#26

Core Ultra 5 245

MSRP: $319|Avg: $220

103%

#27

Ryzen 7 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $86

102%

#28

Core Ultra 7 265KF

MSRP: $379|Avg: $323

102%

#29

Core Ultra 7 265F

MSRP: $369|Avg: $276

100%

#30

Core i5-12400F

MSRP: $174|Avg: $110

100%

#31

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

99%

#32

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $100

98%

#33

Core i3-10100F

MSRP: $88|Avg: $50

98%

#34

Ryzen 5 7400F

MSRP: $150|Avg: $147

98%

#35

Ryzen 5 9600X

MSRP: $279|Avg: $178

95%

#36

Ryzen 7 3800X

MSRP: $399|Avg: $140

93%

#37

Ryzen 3 5300G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

92%

#38

Ryzen 9 7900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $316

91%

#39

Ryzen 5 5600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $135

91%

#40

Core i5-14600KF

MSRP: $304|Avg: $239

91%

#41

Ryzen 7 5800

MSRP: $349|Avg: $160

91%

#42

Core i3-14100F

MSRP: $109|Avg: $96

90%

#43

Ryzen 7 3700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $140

90%

#44

Ryzen 5 7600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $178

90%

#45

Ryzen 3 3100

MSRP: $99|Avg: $75

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i5-12400F (2022) utilizes Intel 7 nm technology and DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core 2 Duo E8300	Core i5-12400F
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($20)	⚠️ Higher cost ($110)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core 2 Duo E8300 (2008) relies on 45 nm technology and DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core 2 Duo E8300	Core i5-12400F
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+242%)
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($20)	⚠️ Higher cost ($110)

Performance Check

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.

Core 2 Duo E8300 Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 2 Duo E8300 and Core i5-12400F

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.

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo E8300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 43.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.83 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8300 scores 1,039 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 179.8% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,000 vs 12,380 (170.1% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 345 vs 1,700, a 132.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 771 vs 657 (16% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E8300 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8300	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	2.83 GHz	4.4 GHz+55%
Base Clock	2.83 GHz+13%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	6 MB (total)+380%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	45 nm	Intel 7 nm-84%
Architecture	Wolfdale (2008−2010)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	1,039	19,532+1780%
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,000	12,380+1138%
Geekbench 6 Single	345	1,700+393%
Geekbench 6 Multi	771+17%	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo E8300) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,G33,G31 (Core 2 Duo E8300) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8300	Core i5-12400F
Socket	LGA775	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8300	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Budget	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core 2 Duo E8300 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($20 vs $110), the Core 2 Duo E8300 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8300 delivers 52.0 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 109.5% better value option.