Core 2 Duo P8600 vs Pentium B940

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.

Core 2 Duo P8600 vs Pentium B940 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo P8600 vs Pentium B940: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo P8600

2008

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).
✅Draws 3W instead of 35W, a 32W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium B940

2011

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,610 vs 2,618).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo P8600 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1066.7% higher power demand at 35W vs 3W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo P8600 better than Pentium B940?

Yes. Core 2 Duo P8600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Duo P8600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo P8600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Duo P8600 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core 2 Duo P8600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium B940 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (19.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA988.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium B940 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo P8600 vs Pentium B940 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo P8600

The Core 2 Duo P8600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,618 points. Launch price was $209.

Pentium B940

The Pentium B940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,610 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo P8600 and Pentium B940 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8600 versus 2 GHz on the Pentium B940 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P8600 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P8600 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium B940 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P8600 scores 2,618 against the Pentium B940's 2,610 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo P8600. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P8600 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B940.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8600	Pentium B940
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz+20%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+20%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB L2 Cache+50%	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB	256K (per core)+8433%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,618	2,610

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P8600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium B940 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.