CPU
GPU
Pentium E6500
Core 2 Duo P9700
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 E6500 is positioned at rank 921 and the Core 2 Duo P9700 is on rank 564, so the Core 2 Duo P9700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6500
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo P9700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Core 2 Duo P9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Core 2 Duo P9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ 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 E6500 and Core 2 Duo P9700
Pentium E6500
The Pentium E6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 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: 1,175 points. Launch price was $50.
Core 2 Duo P9700
The Core 2 Duo P9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,178 points. Launch price was $348.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E6500 and Core 2 Duo P9700 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Pentium E6500 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9700 — a 100.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9700 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium E6500 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo P9700 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E6500 scores 1,175 against the Core 2 Duo P9700's 1,178 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo P9700. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E6500 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9700.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Core 2 Duo P9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz | 2.8 GHz+201% |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz+5% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,175 | 1,178 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E6500 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo P9700 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Core 2 Duo P9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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