
Pentium E5700 vs Core 2 Duo P9600

Pentium E5700

Core 2 Duo P9600
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 E5700 is positioned at rank 904 and the Core 2 Duo P9600 is on rank 609, so the Core 2 Duo P9600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5700
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5700 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5700 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 E5700 and Core 2 Duo P9600

Pentium E5700
The Pentium E5700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,096 points. Launch price was $110.

Core 2 Duo P9600
The Core 2 Duo P9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,093 points. Launch price was $348.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E5700 and Core 2 Duo P9600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium E5700 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9600 — a 12% clock advantage for the Pentium E5700 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Pentium E5700 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5700 scores 1,096 against the Core 2 Duo P9600's 1,093 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium E5700. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E5700 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9600.
| Feature | Pentium E5700 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+13% | 2.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+13% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB+200% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,096 | 1,093 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E5700 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo P9600 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E5700 | Core 2 Duo P9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
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