Core 2 Duo E8400 vs Core i7-2600

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1473	2562
Place by popularity	43	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.39	1.86
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Wolfdale (2008−2010)
Release date	9 January 2011 (13 years ago)	1 January 2008 (16 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$247	no data
Current price	$103 (0.4x MSRP)	$53

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Core 2 Duo E8400 has 34% better value for money than i7-2600.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	8	2
Base clock speed	3.4 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.8 GHz	3 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6 MB (shared)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	0 KB
Chip lithography	32 nm	45 nm
Die size	216 mm2	104 mm2
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	72 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	1,160 million	410 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No
VID voltage range	no data	0.85V-1.3625V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	LGA1155	LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	no data
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	no data	-
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
FSB parity	no data	-
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Identity Protection	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	no data
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	-	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 2000	On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.35 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400.

PCIe version	2.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i7-2600 outperforms Core 2 Duo E8400 by 361% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	3.46	0.75
Recency	9 January 2011	1 January 2008
Physical cores	4	2
Threads	8	2
Chip lithography	32 nm	45 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600 and Core 2 Duo E8400, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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