Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Pentium G4500

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 P8700 vs Pentium G4500 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 P8700 vs Pentium G4500: 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 P8700

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 3W instead of 51W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium G4500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.6 vs 37.3 PassMark/$ ($241 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).

Pentium G4500

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Costs $166 less on MSRP ($75 MSRP vs $241 MSRP).
✅Delivers 220.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.3 vs 11.6 PassMark/$ ($75 MSRP vs $241 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,800 vs 2,805).
❌1600% higher power demand at 51W vs 3W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium G4500 better than Core 2 Duo P8700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium G4500 is ahead with a 7.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo P8700 pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark. Pentium G4500 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo P8700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium G4500 is the better buy right now. Pentium G4500 comes in $166 cheaper on MSRP at $75 MSRP versus $241 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core 2 Duo P8700 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.2% better PassMark. It is also 220.8% better value on MSRP (37.3 vs 11.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium G4500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009) and 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Pentium G4500 Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Duo P8700

The Core 2 Duo P8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 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: 2,805 points. Launch price was $209.

Pentium G4500

The Pentium G4500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,800 points. Launch price was $82.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo P8700 and Pentium G4500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8700 versus 3.5 GHz on the Pentium G4500 — a 32.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G4500 (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P8700 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G4500 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P8700 scores 2,805 against the Pentium G4500's 2,800 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo P8700. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P8700 vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium G4500.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Pentium G4500
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.53 GHz	3.5 GHz+38%
Base Clock	2.53 GHz	3.5 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	3 MB L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB	256K (per core)+8433%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	2,805	2,800

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P8700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G4500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Pentium G4500
Socket	PGA478	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	8	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo P8700) / not specified (Pentium G4500). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo P8700 rivals Turion II Ultra M600.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Pentium G4500
Integrated GPU	No	—
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core 2 Duo P8700 was priced at $241, while the Pentium G4500 came in at $75. On launch pricing ($241 vs $75), Pentium G4500 was $166 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo P8700 delivers 11.6 pts/$ vs 37.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G4500 — making the Pentium G4500 the 104.9% better value option.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Pentium G4500
MSRP	$241	$75-69%
Performance per Dollar	11.6	37.3+222%
Release Date	2009	2015

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