Core i3-350M vs Core 2 Duo E4400

Core i3-350M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 0.27 GHz2010

Core 2 Duo E4400

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2 GHz2007

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-350M

2 / 4

1,088

0.0%

1,095

+0.6%

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 i3-350M is positioned at rank 17 and the Core 2 Duo E4400 is on rank 1001, so the Core i3-350M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-350M

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

135%

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

133%

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

122%

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

121%

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

120%

#11

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

116%

#12

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

111%

#13

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

111%

#14

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

108%

#17

Core i3-350M

MSRP: $130|Avg: $10

100%

#18

Atom x5-E8000

MSRP: $18|Avg: N/A

99%

#19

Core 2 Duo T5900

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $5

98%

#22

Core i3-3130M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

88%

#23

Core 2 Duo T5550

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $5

84%

#24

Core 2 Duo T7100

MSRP: $197|Avg: $15

84%

#27

Pentium 2030M

MSRP: $134|Avg: N/A

80%

#28

Core 2 Duo T5750

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $8

80%

#29

Core 2 Duo T7200

MSRP: $286|Avg: $6

79%

#30

Core i5-3230M

MSRP: $225|Avg: $13

79%

#31

Atom D525

MSRP: $63|Avg: N/A

78%

#32

Atom x7835RE

MSRP: $127|Avg: N/A

78%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4400

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

32169%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

30396%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

22070%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

6649%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

5267%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

4607%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

2639%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

2604%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

2371%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

2371%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

2345%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

2281%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

2249%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

2240%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

2220%

#1001

Core 2 Duo E4400

MSRP: $113|Avg: $20

100%

#1002

Pentium D 915

MSRP: $74|Avg: $10

98%

#1003

Core 2 Quad Q9400

MSRP: $229|Avg: $25

97%

#1004

Core i5-655K

MSRP: $216|Avg: $55

96%

#1005

Celeron 450

MSRP: $53|Avg: $5

96%

#1006

Core 2 Duo E4600

MSRP: $133|Avg: $9.6

96%

#1008

Core i7-870S

MSRP: $300|Avg: $80

95%

#1009

Core 2 Duo E6540

MSRP: $163|Avg: $15

95%

#1010

Celeron 430

MSRP: $49|Avg: $10

94%

#1011

Athlon X2 BE-2300

MSRP: $100|Avg: $80

93%

#1012

Core i7-875K

MSRP: $353|Avg: $175

93%

#1013

Core i5-670

MSRP: $284|Avg: $100

93%

#1014

Core i5-680

MSRP: $294|Avg: $10

92%

#1015

Core 2 Duo E4300

MSRP: $113|Avg: $5

92%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i3-350M leads in gaming performance. However, the Core 2 Duo E4400 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.6% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i3-350M	Core 2 Duo E4400
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($10)	⚠️ Higher cost ($20)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i3-350M stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 50% cheaper ($10 vs $20) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i3-350M	Core 2 Duo E4400
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+99%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($10)	⚠️ Higher cost ($20)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-350M Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo E4400 Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-350M and Core 2 Duo E4400

Core i3-350M

The Core i3-350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.27 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,088 points. Launch price was $130.

Core 2 Duo E4400

The Core 2 Duo E4400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-350M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo E4400's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.27 GHz on the Core i3-350M versus 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 — a 152.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E4400 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-350M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 uses Allendale (2006−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-350M scores 1,088 against the Core 2 Duo E4400's 1,095 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4400. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 280 vs 208, a 29.5% lead for the Core i3-350M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-350M vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4400.

Feature	Core i3-350M	Core 2 Duo E4400
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	0.27 GHz	2 GHz+641%
Base Clock	2.26 GHz+13%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	0 kB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB+700%
Process	32 nm-51%	65 nm
Architecture	Arrandale (2010−2011)	Allendale (2006−2009)
PassMark	1,088	1,095
Geekbench 6 Single	280+35%	208
Geekbench 6 Multi	650	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-350M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-350M versus DDR2-1066 on the Core 2 Duo E4400 — the Core i3-350M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E4400 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-350M) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo E4400) — the Core i3-350M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57 (Core i3-350M) and RS600,Q965 (Core 2 Duo E4400).

Feature	Core i3-350M	Core 2 Duo E4400
Socket	PGA988	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066+50%	DDR2-1066
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-350M) vs None (Core 2 Duo E4400). The Core i3-350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-350M targets Entry Laptop, Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-350M rivals AMD Athlon II P320; Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240.

Feature	Core i3-350M	Core 2 Duo E4400
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics	—
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	None
Target Use	Entry Laptop	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-350M launched at $130 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E4400 debuted at $113. At current prices ($10 vs $20), the Core i3-350M is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-350M delivers 108.8 pts/$ vs 54.8 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E4400 — making the Core i3-350M the 66.1% better value option.