
Pentium E6300 vs Core 2 Duo E8300

Pentium E6300

Core 2 Duo E8300
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 E6300 is positioned at rank 958 and the Core 2 Duo E8300 is on rank 1060, so the Pentium E6300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6300
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+32%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ 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 E6300 and Core 2 Duo E8300

Pentium E6300
The Pentium E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 May 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,032 points. Launch price was $40.

Core 2 Duo E8300
The Core 2 Duo E8300 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 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.83 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: 1,039 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E6300 and Core 2 Duo E8300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E6300 versus 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 — a 1.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.83 GHz). Both are built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium E6300 scores 1,032 against the Core 2 Duo E8300's 1,039 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.83 GHz+1% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.83 GHz+1% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,032 | 1,039 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 345 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 771 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium E6300) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget.
| Feature | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E6300 launched at $84 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E8300 debuted at $163. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Pentium E6300 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E6300 delivers 68.8 pts/$ vs 52.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8300 — making the Pentium E6300 the 27.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E6300 | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $84-48% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 68.8+32% | 52.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2008 |
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