Intel Pentium E6700

The Intel Pentium E6700 is a dual-core, dual-thread desktop processor from the Wolfdale generation, built on Intel's 45 nm process. It operates at a fixed 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost capability, and its benchmark results place it in the 3rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a strictly entry-level part by modern standards. The data shows a processor that is entirely outclassed in multi-threaded workloads but still retains a narrow, albeit aging, advantage in lightly-threaded tasks, making its behavior highly workload-dependent.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Pentium E6700 presents a stark contrast between its single-core and multi-core performance. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 145 points in the single-core test and 1,032 points in the multi-core test. This ratio reveals a fundamental limitation: the multi-core score is only slightly more than seven times the single-core score, which is expected for a chip with two physical cores and two threads. Because there is no Hyper-Threading, the multi-core score scales almost linearly with core count, meaning that any workload that cannot be perfectly parallelized will see little benefit from the second core.

For real-world applications, this split implies that the E6700 is best suited for tasks that rely on a single fast core. Older office suites, basic web browsing, and legacy productivity software that are not heavily multi-threaded will perform closer to the processor's single-core potential. Conversely, modern content creation tools, video encoding, and even contemporary web browsers with multiple background processes will quickly saturate both cores, causing the multi-core score to become the limiting factor. The Cinebench R20 results reinforce this: the single-core score of 60 is roughly 14% of the multi-core score of 433, which again highlights that the chip's aggregate throughput is capped by its two-thread design.

The lack of a boost clock is another critical factor. The processor is locked at 3.20 GHz, so it cannot dynamically increase its frequency when only one core is active. This means that single-threaded performance is entirely static, with no headroom to compensate for aging software that becomes more demanding over time. Benchmark results indicate that the E6700's single-core capability, while modest, is still its strongest attribute.

Power and Thermals

The Pentium E6700 carries a 65-watt TDP class, which is a modest figure for a desktop processor. This TDP, combined with the 45 nm process node and a die size of 82 mm², implies that the chip does not require an aggressive cooling solution. The thermal density is low enough that a stock cooler or a basic air cooler is sufficient to maintain safe operating temperatures under sustained load. The architecture draws from the Core 2 generation, which was known for relatively efficient power consumption at this performance tier.

The 65-watt TDP also indicates that the processor is unlikely to strain older motherboards or power delivery systems. For systems with limited cooling airflow, such as compact desktops or home-theater PCs, the E6700's thermal profile is forgiving. However, it is important to note that the 45 nm process, while efficient for its time, is outdated compared to modern nodes, so the performance-per-watt ratio is far worse than contemporary chips. Users upgrading from this platform will see significant power savings, but within its own generation, the E6700 sits in a reasonable power class. The transistor count of 228 million is modest, further confirming that the chip does not generate extreme heat.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the Pentium E6700 shows a processor that is consistently at the bottom of the performance scale. Its average benchmark score is 355, which places it in the 3rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning that 97% of processors in the database outperform it. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the score of 1,032 is barely above the minimum threshold for modern desktop usage, while the single-core score of 145 is similarly low. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 103 is particularly telling, as it shows the chip struggling with even older rendering workloads.

The nearest rival data provides a clear picture of its competitive position. The AMD Athlon II X2 240e matches the E6700 exactly with an average score of 355 and a deltaPct of 0, indicating identical overall performance. The AMD Athlon II X2 215 and Intel Core i3-3229Y both trail by a negligible 0.1%, with average scores of 355, which means they are statistically tied with the E6700. The AMD Phenom II X2 545 is the only rival that pulls ahead, with an average score of 357 and a deltaPct of -0.5%, meaning the E6700 is half a percent slower. These deltas are so small that they fall within normal run-to-run variance, so the E6700 effectively trades blows with all four rivals.

In absolute terms, the E6700's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 433 is roughly 4.2 times lower than the R23 multi-core score of 1,032, but this is due to the different rendering workloads rather than a performance anomaly. The single-core R20 score of 60 and R23 score of 145 follow a similar pattern. The data shows that the E6700 is a processor that can handle basic tasks but will bottleneck any serious multi-threaded application.

How It Compares

AMD Athlon II X2 240e: The E6700 is exactly tied with this rival, as both have an average score of 355 and a deltaPct of 0. This means that in aggregate benchmark performance, there is no measurable difference between the two. Users choosing between them would need to look at platform features rather than raw speed, as the benchmark results are indistinguishable.

AMD Athlon II X2 215: This rival is fractionally slower, with a deltaPct of -0.1% relative to the E6700. The average score is also 355, so the difference is within the margin of error. The E6700 holds a marginal edge, but it is not significant enough to be considered a decisive advantage in any real-world scenario.

Intel Core i3-3229Y: This rival also trails by 0.1%, with an average score of 355. The E6700 and the i3-3229Y are effectively equivalent in benchmark terms, despite the i3 being from a different architecture generation. The data suggests that the E6700's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz compensates for any architectural deficiencies.

AMD Phenom II X2 545: The Phenom II X2 545 is the only rival that outperforms the E6700, with an average score of 357 and a deltaPct of -0.5%. This means the E6700 is half a percent slower, which is a small but consistent gap. In practical terms, the difference is negligible for most applications, but the Phenom II has a slight edge in multi-threaded tasks.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Pentium E6700 support turbo or boost clocks?

A: No, the processor has a fixed base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock, so it cannot dynamically increase its frequency under load.

Q: What is the memory support for the E6700?

A: The processor supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. It does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the socket type for this processor?

A: The E6700 uses the Intel Socket 775 interface, which is an older platform that has been end-of-life for many years.

Q: How many cores and threads does the E6700 have?

A: It has 2 cores and 2 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: What is the production status of the E6700?

A: The processor is end-of-life, and it was released on May 29, 2010.

Q: Does the E6700 have integrated graphics?

A: The processor itself does not have integrated graphics, but the chipset on certain motherboards may provide this feature.

Platform and Compatibility

The Intel Pentium E6700 is built for the Intel Socket 775 platform, which is a legacy interface that was phased out years ago. This socket supports older motherboards from the Core 2 era, and the processor is compatible with chipsets that provide PCIe Gen 2 connectivity. The memory support is broad, including DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, but the actual memory type available depends on the specific motherboard, as no board supports all three simultaneously. The dual-channel memory bus is standard, but the lack of ECC support limits its use in error-sensitive environments.

The upgrade path from this platform is essentially nonexistent for modern hardware, as Socket 775 has been discontinued. Users looking to upgrade would need to replace the motherboard and memory alongside the processor, since no current CPUs use this socket. The PCIe Gen 2 support is also outdated, as modern graphics cards and NVMe drives typically require PCIe Gen 3 or Gen 4 for full performance. The processor's integrated graphics capability is not on-die; rather, it is a chipset feature, so the visual output depends entirely on the motherboard's northbridge or a discrete graphics card.

The 45 nm process node and 82 mm² die size are indicators of the platform's age. The processor communicates with the chipset over older buses, which can bottleneck high-bandwidth devices. For a system that is already built around Socket 775, the E6700 is a drop-in replacement for earlier Pentium Dual-Core parts, but it offers no headroom for future expansion. The part number SLGUF identifies this specific stepping, which may have minor revisions compared to earlier models.

Who Should Consider It

The Pentium E6700 is only viable for users with very specific, low-demand workloads. For single-threaded office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet management, and email, the 3.20 GHz base clock is adequate, and the single-core Cinebench R23 score of 145 supports this. These tasks rarely use more than one core, so the processor's two-thread limitation is not a major issue. However, any modern operating system with background services will still load both cores, potentially causing sluggishness.

For gaming, the E6700 is not a practical choice. The 3rd percentile ranking and the multi-core score of 1,032 in Cinebench R23 indicate that it will struggle with any game released in the last decade. Older or indie titles that are not CPU-intensive may run, but the lack of boost clock and two-thread design will cause frame drops in scenes with many entities. The data does not support using this processor for any serious gaming workload.

For content creation, the E6700 is completely unsuitable. Video editing, 3D rendering, and photo batch processing are all heavily multi-threaded, and the Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 433 is far too low to handle these tasks efficiently. Even basic 1080p video encoding will saturate both cores and result in very slow render times. The only scenario where this processor makes sense is as a secondary machine for legacy software that cannot run on modern CPUs, or as a teaching tool for understanding pre-multi-core architecture. The benchmark results are clear: this is a processor for basic, single-threaded computing, and nothing more.