
Pentium 2030M vs Core 2 Duo SU9300

Pentium 2030M

Core 2 Duo SU9300
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 Pentium 2030M is positioned at rank 27 and the Core 2 Duo SU9300 is on rank 143, so the Pentium 2030M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 2030M
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SU9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 2030M | Core 2 Duo SU9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($134) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 2030M | Core 2 Duo SU9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($134) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Pentium 2030M and Core 2 Duo SU9300

Pentium 2030M
The Pentium 2030M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,396 points. Launch price was $134.

Core 2 Duo SU9300
The Core 2 Duo SU9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,392 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 2030M and Core 2 Duo SU9300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Pentium 2030M versus 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 — a 70.3% clock advantage for the Pentium 2030M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Pentium 2030M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 2030M scores 1,396 against the Core 2 Duo SU9300's 1,392 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium 2030M. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 2030M vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9300.
| Feature | Pentium 2030M | Core 2 Duo SU9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+108% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+108% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB L2 Cache+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 3 MB+1100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,396 | 1,392 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 2030M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 2030M | Core 2 Duo SU9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
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