Core 2 Duo E8400 vs Pentium E6500
Core 2 Duo E8400
Pentium E6500
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 E8400 is positioned at rank 508 and the Pentium E6500 is on rank 921, so the Core 2 Duo E8400 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 E8400
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 E8400 and Pentium E6500
Core 2 Duo E8400
The Core 2 Duo E8400 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 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,165 points. Launch price was $249.
Pentium E6500
The Pentium E6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 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: 1,175 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8400 and Pentium E6500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8400 versus 0.93 GHz on the Pentium E6500 — a 105.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8400 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8400 scores 1,165 against the Pentium E6500's 1,175 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium E6500. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+223% | 0.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+2% | 2.93 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 | 1,165 | 1,175 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E8400) / not specified (Pentium E6500). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8400 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo E8400 and Pentium E6500
