CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo P9700
E-300
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 P9700 is positioned at rank 564 and the E-300 is on rank 891, so the Core 2 Duo P9700 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 P9700
Performance Per Dollar E-300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | E-300 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zacate (2011−2013) / 40 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | E-300 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 P9700 and E-300
Core 2 Duo P9700
The Core 2 Duo P9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,178 points. Launch price was $348.
E-300
The E-300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 22 August 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zacate (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,176 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo P9700 and E-300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9700 versus 1.3 GHz on the E-300 — a 73.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9700. The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the E-300 uses Zacate (2011−2013) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P9700 scores 1,178 against the E-300's 1,176 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo P9700. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9700 vs 0 kB on the E-300.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | E-300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+115% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 40 nm-11% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Zacate (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,178 | 1,176 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the E-300 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | E-300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FT1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo P9700) / AMD-V (E-300). The E-300 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6310), while the Core 2 Duo P9700 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: E-300 targets Budget Mobile.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | E-300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6310 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Mobile |
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