Pentium E6600 vs Core i3-2312M
Pentium E6600
Core i3-2312M
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 Core i3-2312M is on rank 1200, so the Pentium E6600 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 Core i3-2312M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+352%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
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 Core i3-2312M
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.
Core i3-2312M
The Core i3-2312M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,189 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Pentium E6600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2312M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Pentium E6600 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-2312M — a 187.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-2312M (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Pentium E6600 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2312M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E6600 scores 1,194 against the Core i3-2312M's 1,189 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium E6600. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E6600 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2312M.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.1 GHz+2900% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+46% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,194 | 1,189 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 731 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E6600 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-2312M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium E6600) / true (Core i3-2312M). The Core i3-2312M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Pentium E6600 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E6600 launched at $84 MSRP, while the Core i3-2312M debuted at $225.
| Feature | Pentium E6600 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $84-63% | $225 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | — |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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