CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo P9700
Pentium E6500
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 Pentium E6500 is on rank 921, 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 Pentium E6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 Pentium E6500
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.
Pentium E6500
The Pentium E6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,175 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo P9700 and Pentium E6500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9700 versus 0.93 GHz on the Pentium E6500 — a 100.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9700 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium E6500 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P9700 scores 1,178 against the Pentium E6500's 1,175 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo P9700. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9700 vs 0 kB on the Pentium E6500.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+201% | 0.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.93 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,178 | 1,175 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium E6500 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Pentium E6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
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