Pentium B980 vs Core 2 Duo E6320
Pentium B980
Core 2 Duo E6320
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 B980 is positioned at rank 1110 and the Core 2 Duo E6320 is on rank 1051, so the Core 2 Duo E6320 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B980
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6320
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+609%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 B980 and Core 2 Duo E6320
Pentium B980
The Pentium B980 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,101 points. Launch price was $125.
Core 2 Duo E6320
The Core 2 Duo E6320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium B980 and Core 2 Duo E6320 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Pentium B980 versus 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6320 — a 25.4% clock advantage for the Pentium B980 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Pentium B980 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6320 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium B980 scores 1,101 against the Core 2 Duo E6320's 1,115 — a 1.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6320. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B980 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E6320.
| Feature | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+29% | 1.86 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+29% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,101 | 1,115+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium B980 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E6320 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium B980) / true (Core 2 Duo E6320). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6320 rivals Athlon 64 X2 4200+.
| Feature | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium B980 launched at $125 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E6320 debuted at $163. At current prices ($35 vs $5), the Core 2 Duo E6320 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium B980 delivers 31.5 pts/$ vs 223.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E6320 — making the Core 2 Duo E6320 the 150.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium B980 | Core 2 Duo E6320 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $125-23% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35 | $5-86% |
| Performance per Dollar | 31.5 | 223.0+608% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2007 |
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