Pentium Silver A1030 vs Core 2 Duo E8600

Pentium Silver A1030

2 Cores2 Thrd15 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2020

Core 2 Duo E8600

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.33 GHz2008

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Pentium Silver A1030

2 / 2

1,380

+0.1%

1,378

0.0%

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 Silver A1030 is positioned at rank 1140 and the Core 2 Duo E8600 is on rank 1050, so the Core 2 Duo E8600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium Silver A1030

#1128

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3825%

#1129

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3769%

#1130

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3460%

#1131

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3445%

#1132

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3413%

#1134

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3296%

#1135

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3160%

#1136

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3155%

#1137

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3070%

#1140

Pentium Silver A1030

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#1141

Celeron 807

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

100%

#1142

Pentium B950

MSRP: $134|Avg: $35

99%

#1143

Celeron 220

MSRP: $42|Avg: $42

99%

#1144

Pentium B960

MSRP: $134|Avg: $15

99%

#1146

Pentium 957

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

99%

#1147

Core 2 Duo SL9400

MSRP: $284|Avg: N/A

98%

#1149

Pentium N3540

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

98%

#1150

Core i7-3555LE

MSRP: $300|Avg: $280

97%

#1151

Core i3-2377M

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

96%

#1152

Core 2 Duo E8435

MSRP: $150|Avg: $74

96%

#1153

Celeron M 723

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

96%

#1154

Core i7-3517UE

MSRP: $330|Avg: $35

94%

#1155

Core M-5Y51

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8600

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

45242%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

42749%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

31039%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

9351%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

7407%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

6480%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

3711%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

3663%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

3335%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

3335%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

3297%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

3208%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

3164%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

3151%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

3122%

#1050

Core 2 Duo E8600

MSRP: $200|Avg: $95

100%

#1051

Core 2 Duo E6320

MSRP: $163|Avg: $5

99%

#1052

Core i7-980X

MSRP: $999|Avg: $150

99%

#1053

Athlon 64 X2 3600+

MSRP: $150|Avg: $10

99%

#1054

Core 2 Duo E6420

MSRP: $183|Avg: $10

98%

#1055

Pentium D 940

MSRP: $132|Avg: $15

96%

#1056

Phenom X4 9600B

MSRP: $278|Avg: $20

96%

#1057

Phenom II X3 B77

MSRP: $281|Avg: $35

95%

#1058

Core 2 Duo E6300

MSRP: $163|Avg: $5

94%

#1059

Core 2 Duo E6400

MSRP: $183|Avg: $10

93%

#1060

Core 2 Duo E8300

MSRP: $163|Avg: $20

92%

#1061

Phenom X4 9500

MSRP: $247|Avg: $30

92%

#1062

Celeron D 352

MSRP: $69|Avg: $15

88%

#1063

Core i7-970

MSRP: $1083|Avg: $289

88%

#1064

Core i7-880

MSRP: $583|Avg: $40

85%

#1065

Pentium D 820

MSRP: $241|Avg: $20

85%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Pentium Silver A1030 (2020) utilizes 14 nm technology and upto-2400, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo E8600
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($95)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core 2 Duo E8600 (2008) relies on 45 nm technology and DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo E8600
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($95)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Pentium Silver A1030 Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo E8600 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Pentium Silver A1030 and Core 2 Duo E8600

Pentium Silver A1030

The Pentium Silver A1030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: upto-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,380 points. Launch price was $69.

Core 2 Duo E8600

The Core 2 Duo E8600 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 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: 1,378 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Pentium Silver A1030 and Core 2 Duo E8600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver A1030 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8600 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8600 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8600 is built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium Silver A1030 scores 1,380 against the Core 2 Duo E8600's 1,378 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium Silver A1030. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Pentium Silver A1030 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E8600.

Feature	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo E8600
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.33 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.33 GHz+67%
L3 Cache	4 MB	0 kB
L2 Cache	—	6 MB (total)
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	—	Wolfdale (2008−2010)
PassMark	1,380	1,378
Geekbench 6 Single	—	486
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	885

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium Silver A1030 uses the FCBGA1090 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8600 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo E8600
Socket	FCBGA1090	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+173%	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 Silver A1030) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8600). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8600 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8600 rivals Phenom II X2 550.