
Core 2 Duo E8300 vs Pentium E6300

Core 2 Duo E8300

Pentium E6300
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 Pentium E6300 is on rank 958, so the Pentium E6300 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 Pentium E6300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+32%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 Pentium E6300

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.

Pentium E6300
The Pentium E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 May 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $40.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8300 and Pentium E6300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E6300 — a 1.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300 (base: 2.83 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8300 scores 1,039 against the Pentium E6300's 1,032 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.83 GHz+1% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.83 GHz+1% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,039 | 1,032 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 345 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 771 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300) / not specified (Pentium E6300). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E8300 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Pentium E6300 debuted at $84. At current prices ($20 vs $15), the Pentium E6300 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8300 delivers 52.0 pts/$ vs 68.8 pts/$ for the Pentium E6300 — making the Pentium E6300 the 27.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163 | $84-48% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $15-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 52.0 | 68.8+32% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2009 |
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