
Core 2 Duo E8600 vs Pentium N3710

Core 2 Duo E8600

Pentium N3710
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 E8600 is positioned at rank 1050 and the Pentium N3710 is on rank 1115, so the Core 2 Duo E8600 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 E8600
Performance Per Dollar Pentium N3710
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Braswell (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+91%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 E8600 and Pentium N3710

Core 2 Duo E8600
The Core 2 Duo E8600 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 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: 1,378 points. Launch price was $249.

Pentium N3710
The Pentium N3710 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.56 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,386 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E8600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3710 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3710 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8600 versus 2.56 GHz on the Pentium N3710 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8600 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8600 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium N3710 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8600 scores 1,378 against the Pentium N3710's 1,386 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium N3710. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz+30% | 2.56 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+108% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Braswell (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,378 | 1,386 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 486 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 885 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8600 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium N3710 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| 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 E8600) / not specified (Pentium N3710). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8600 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8600 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E8600 launched at $200 MSRP, while the Pentium N3710 debuted at $161. At current prices ($95 vs $50), the Pentium N3710 is $45 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8600 delivers 14.5 pts/$ vs 27.7 pts/$ for the Pentium N3710 — making the Pentium N3710 the 62.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Pentium N3710 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200 | $161-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $95 | $50-47% |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.5 | 27.7+91% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2016 |
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