CPU
GPU
Core i7-2617M
Pentium P6300
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 i7-2617M is positioned at rank 287 and the Pentium P6300 is on rank 852, so the Core i7-2617M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2617M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium P6300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | Pentium P6300 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | Pentium P6300 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-2617M and Pentium P6300
Core i7-2617M
The Core i7-2617M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $100.
Pentium P6300
The Pentium P6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.27 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: 1,685 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2617M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium P6300's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i7-2617M versus 0.27 GHz on the Pentium P6300 — a 162.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-2617M (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.27 GHz). The Core i7-2617M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium P6300 uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2617M scores 1,687 against the Pentium P6300's 1,685 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-2617M. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2617M vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium P6300.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | Pentium P6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+863% | 0.27 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.27 GHz+51% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,687 | 1,685 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 448 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2617M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium P6300 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | Pentium P6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2617M) / not specified (Pentium P6300). The Core i7-2617M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Pentium P6300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2617M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i7-2617M rivals A6-3400M.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | Pentium P6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | — |
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