Core 2 Duo E8400 vs Pentium N3530
Core 2 Duo E8400
Pentium N3530
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 N3530 is on rank 1156, 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 N3530
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium N3530 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium N3530 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 N3530
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 N3530
The Pentium N3530 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 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.58 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,159 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E8400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3530 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3530 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8400 versus 2.58 GHz on the Pentium N3530 — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8400 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.16 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium N3530 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8400 scores 1,165 against the Pentium N3530's 1,159 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E8400 vs 2 MB on the Pentium N3530.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium N3530 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+16% | 2.58 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+39% | 2.16 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,165 | 1,159 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium N3530 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium N3530 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| 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 N3530). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8400 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Pentium N3530 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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