CPU
GPU
Pentium E6600
Athlon II Neo K345
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 E6600 is positioned at rank 912 and the Athlon II Neo K345 is on rank 812, so the Athlon II Neo K345 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6600
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II Neo K345
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6600 | Athlon II Neo K345 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6600 | Athlon II Neo K345 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+399%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 E6600 and Athlon II Neo K345
Pentium E6600
The Pentium E6600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 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: 1,194 points. Launch price was $16.
Athlon II Neo K345
The Athlon II Neo K345 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,191 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E6600 and Athlon II Neo K345 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Pentium E6600 versus 1.4 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K345 — a 181% clock advantage for the Athlon II Neo K345. The Pentium E6600 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II Neo K345 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E6600 scores 1,194 against the Athlon II Neo K345's 1,191 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium E6600.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Athlon II Neo K345 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1.4 GHz+1900% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,194 | 1,191 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E6600 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II Neo K345 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Athlon II Neo K345 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E6600 launched at $84 MSRP, while the Athlon II Neo K345 debuted at $50. At current prices ($50 vs $10), the Athlon II Neo K345 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E6600 delivers 23.9 pts/$ vs 119.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II Neo K345 — making the Athlon II Neo K345 the 133.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Athlon II Neo K345 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $84 | $50-40% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $10-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 23.9 | 119.1+398% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium E6600 and Athlon II Neo K345
