
Xeon E5462 vs Core 2 Duo E8700

Xeon E5462

Core 2 Duo E8700
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 Xeon E5462 is positioned at rank 955 and the Core 2 Duo E8700 is on rank 1020, so the Xeon E5462 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5462
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
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 Xeon E5462 and Core 2 Duo E8700

Xeon E5462
The Xeon E5462 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,213 points. Launch price was $797.

Core 2 Duo E8700
The Core 2 Duo E8700 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,212 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5462 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E8700 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5462 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5462 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8700 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8700 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5462 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8700 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5462 scores 2,213 against the Core 2 Duo E8700's 2,212 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5462.
| Feature | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,213 | 2,212 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 363 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,239 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5462 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8700 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Xeon E5462) / not specified (Core 2 Duo E8700). Primary use case: Xeon E5462 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon E5462 rivals Athlon 64 X2 4000+.
| Feature | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5462 launched at $342 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E8700 debuted at $256. At current prices ($45 vs $30), the Core 2 Duo E8700 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5462 delivers 49.2 pts/$ vs 73.7 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8700 — making the Core 2 Duo E8700 the 40% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5462 | Core 2 Duo E8700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $342 | $256-25% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45 | $30-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 49.2 | 73.7+50% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2009 |
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