Pentium E5400 vs Pentium D 960
Pentium E5400
Pentium D 960
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 E5400 is positioned at rank 830 and the Pentium D 960 is on rank 1104, so the Pentium E5400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5400
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5400 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5400 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+226%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 E5400 and Pentium D 960
Pentium E5400
The Pentium E5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $55.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E5400 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium E5400 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Pentium E5400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5400 scores 1,007 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium E5400. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 1,007 | 1,005 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E5400 launched at $55 MSRP, while the Pentium D 960 debuted at $523. At current prices ($49 vs $15), the Pentium D 960 is $34 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E5400 delivers 20.6 pts/$ vs 67.0 pts/$ for the Pentium D 960 — making the Pentium D 960 the 106.1% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $55-89% | $523 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $49 | $15-69% |
| Performance per Dollar | 20.6 | 67.0+225% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2006 |
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