Core 2 Duo P9700 vs E-300

Core 2 Duo P9700 vs E-300 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo P9700

2 / 2

1,178

+0.2%

1,176

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Duo P9700 vs E-300 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 P9700 vs E-300: 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 P9700

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌55.6% higher power demand at 28W vs 18W.
❌No integrated graphics, while E-300 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

E-300

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 18W instead of 28W, a 10W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6310, while Core 2 Duo P9700 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,176 vs 1,178).
❌Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo P9700 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo P9700 better than E-300?

Yes. Core 2 Duo P9700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% 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 P9700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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 P9700 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?

Core 2 Duo P9700 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core 2 Duo P9700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. E-300 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.

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

E-300 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo P9700 vs E-300 Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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)	512K (per core)+8433%
Process	45 nm	40 nm-11%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Zacate (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,178	1,176

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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	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	0

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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.