E2-3000 vs Pentium D 960

E2-3000 vs Pentium D 960 Performance Spectrum

E2-3000

2 / 2

990

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium D 960

2 / 2

1,005

+1.5%

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.

E2-3000 vs Pentium D 960 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.

E2-3000 vs Pentium D 960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

E2-3000

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 130W, a 115W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (990 vs 1,005).

Pentium D 960

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $523 MSRP, while E2-3000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌766.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 960 better than E2-3000?

Yes. Pentium D 960 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 960 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% 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, Pentium D 960 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium D 960 is the better buy right now. Pentium D 960 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $523 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (1.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

E2-3000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

E2-3000 vs Pentium D 960 Technical Specifications

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

E2-3000

The E2-3000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.65 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 990 points. Launch price was $50.

Pentium D 960

The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.

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Processing Power

Both the E2-3000 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.65 GHz on the E2-3000 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 74.3% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960. The E2-3000 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the E2-3000 scores 990 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 1.5% lead for the Pentium D 960. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	E2-3000	Pentium D 960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.65 GHz	3.6 GHz+118%
Base Clock	—	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1024 kB	2 MB (total)+100%
Process	28 nm-57%	65 nm
Architecture	Kabini (2013−2014)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	990	1,005+2%

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Memory & Platform

The E2-3000 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium D 960 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.