Pentium G860 vs Core 2 Duo T8300
Pentium G860
Core 2 Duo T8300
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 G860 is positioned at rank 861 and the Core 2 Duo T8300 is on rank 710, so the Core 2 Duo T8300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Duo T8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Duo T8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ 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 G860 and Core 2 Duo T8300
Pentium G860
The Pentium G860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,485 points. Launch price was $75.
Core 2 Duo T8300
The Core 2 Duo T8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,472 points. Launch price was $241.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G860 and Core 2 Duo T8300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T8300 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Pentium G860 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T8300 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G860 scores 1,485 against the Core 2 Duo T8300's 1,472 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium G860. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860 vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T8300.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Duo T8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 3 MB+1100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,485 | 1,472 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 450 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 850 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G860 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T8300 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Pentium G860 versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T8300 — the Pentium G860 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium G860 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Pentium G860) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo T8300) — the Pentium G860 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Duo T8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo T8300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop, Core 2 Duo T8300 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Duo T8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Desktop | Legacy Laptop |
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