Pentium E5700 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955

Intel

Pentium E5700

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium Extreme Edition 955

2 Cores4 Thrd130 WWMax: 0.47 GHz2005
Similar parts
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Pentium E5700 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955 Performance Spectrum

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.

Pentium E5700 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium E5700 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium E5700

2010

Why buy it

  • Costs $924 less on MSRP ($75 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
  • Delivers 1233.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.6 vs 1.1 PassMark/$ ($75 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium Extreme Edition 955

2005

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (1,095 vs 1,096).
    • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($999 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).
    • 100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Pentium E5700 better than Pentium Extreme Edition 955?
    Yes. Pentium E5700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 0.1% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Pentium E5700 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 538.3% higher max boost clock.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium E5700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Pentium E5700 is the better buy right now. Pentium E5700 comes in $924 cheaper on MSRP at $75 MSRP versus $999 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% higher PassMark. It is also 1233.2% better value on MSRP (14.6 vs 1.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Pentium E5700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2005) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Pentium E5700 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955 Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

    Intel

    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.

    Intel

    Pentium Extreme Edition 955

    The Pentium Extreme Edition 955 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 December 2005 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.466 GHz, with boost up to 0.47 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $999.

    Processing Power

    The Pentium E5700 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium Extreme Edition 955's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium E5700 versus 0.47 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 — a 145.8% clock advantage for the Pentium E5700 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.466 GHz). The Pentium E5700 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5700 scores 1,096 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 955's 1,095 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium E5700.

    FeaturePentium E5700Pentium Extreme Edition 955
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 4
    Boost Clock
    3 GHz+538%
    0.47 GHz
    Base Clock
    3 GHz
    3.466 GHz+16%
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    L2 Cache
    2 MB (total)
    2 MB (per core)
    Process
    45 nm-31%
    65 nm
    Architecture
    Wolfdale (2008−2010)
    Presler (2005−2007)
    PassMark
    1,096
    1,095
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.

    FeaturePentium E5700Pentium Extreme Edition 955
    Socket
    LGA775
    LGA775
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 1.1
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Pentium E5700 was priced at $75, while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 came in at $999. On launch pricing ($75 vs $999), Pentium E5700 was $924 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E5700 delivers 14.6 pts/$ vs 1.1 pts/$ for the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 — making the Pentium E5700 the 172.1% better value option.

    FeaturePentium E5700Pentium Extreme Edition 955
    MSRP
    $75-92%
    $999
    Performance per Dollar
    14.6+1227%
    1.1
    Release Date
    2010
    2005

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