CPU
GPU
Pentium 977
Core 2 Duo E8200
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 977 is positioned at rank 1117 and the Core 2 Duo E8200 is on rank 1048, so the Core 2 Duo E8200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 977
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 977 and Core 2 Duo E8200
Pentium 977
The Pentium 977 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,148 points. Launch price was $134.
Core 2 Duo E8200
The Core 2 Duo E8200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 977 and Core 2 Duo E8200 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Pentium 977 versus 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8200 — a 62.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8200 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Pentium 977 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8200 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 977 scores 1,148 against the Core 2 Duo E8200's 1,144 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium 977. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 977 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E8200.
| Feature | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.67 GHz+91% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.66 GHz+90% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB (total)+2300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,148 | 1,144 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 977 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8200 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 977) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8200). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8200 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8200 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 977 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E8200 debuted at $163. At current prices ($10 vs $20), the Pentium 977 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 977 delivers 114.8 pts/$ vs 57.2 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8200 — making the Pentium 977 the 67% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 977 | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-18% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-50% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 114.8+101% | 57.2 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2008 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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