Intel Pentium E6800

The Intel Pentium E6800 is a dual-core desktop processor from the Wolfdale generation, released on 2010-08-28 and now marked as end-of-life. It operates at a base clock of 3.33 GHz with no boost capability, fits the Intel Socket 775, and is built on a 45 nm process with 228 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. Benchmark results place it at the 2nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 337, indicating that it sits at the very low end of the performance spectrum. This analysis examines its benchmark scores, power characteristics, platform compatibility, and positioning against its nearest rivals, drawing exclusively on the provided data.

Benchmark Performance

The E6800’s Cinebench scores are uniformly low, reflecting its age and dual-thread design. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 98; in R20 multicore, it reaches 412, with a single-core score of 57; and in R23, it manages 981 multicore and 138 single-core. These numbers place it far below any modern processor—the 2nd percentile ranking confirms that it outperforms only a tiny fraction of all CPUs ever benchmarked. The average benchmark score of 337 is identical to that of two of its nearest rivals, the AMD Phenom II X2 550 and the Intel Core i3-330M, both of which also average 337. The E6800 is 0.1% faster than those two parts according to the deltaPct values, though the difference is negligible. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Phenom X3 8550, which scores 336, and 0.6% behind the AMD A4-4300M, which scores 339. These margins are within the noise of measurement, meaning the E6800 effectively trades blows with early dual-core and triple-core parts from 2009–2010. The data suggests that for any workload requiring substantial compute, the E6800 will be a severe bottleneck, but for light, single-threaded tasks it may still function acceptably—though even there its single-core R23 score of 138 is exceptionally low.

Power and Thermals

The E6800 carries a TDP of 65 W, a modest figure for a desktop processor of its era. Built on a 45 nm process with a relatively small die of 82 mm², it does not demand aggressive cooling solutions. The absence of a boost clock means the processor always runs at its base 3.33 GHz, so power draw remains constant under load. A 65 W TDP class typically implies that a basic air cooler—one with a modest heatsink and a small fan—will suffice to keep temperatures in check. There is no overclocking headroom either, as the multiplier is locked, so users cannot push the chip beyond its factory frequency. The thermal profile is therefore predictable and low-stress for a motherboard’s power delivery system, making the E6800 an easy part to cool in a legacy build. However, the performance limitations far outweigh any thermal benefits; a low TDP does not compensate for the lack of compute power.

Platform and Compatibility

The E6800 uses the Intel Socket 775, a platform that supports a wide range of memory types: DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, all in dual-channel configuration. This flexibility is unusual, as most processors of the time were tied to a single memory generation. The integrated memory controller is not present on the CPU—the chipset handles memory support, which is why multiple DDR standards are listed. The processor itself does not include integrated graphics; display output depends on the motherboard’s chipset, as noted in the fact pack: “On certain motherboards (Chipset feature).” PCIe support is Gen 2, which is sufficient for older discrete GPUs but lacks the bandwidth of modern PCIe 4.0 or 5.0. ECC memory is not supported, so the E6800 is unsuitable for error-correcting workloads. The platform is end-of-life, meaning no new motherboards or processors are being produced for Socket 775. Upgrade paths are limited to other used Socket 775 CPUs, which may offer more cores or higher clocks but are all similarly dated. For someone building a retro PC or maintaining an old system, the E6800’s compatibility with multiple memory types could be advantageous, but it does not open any modern upgrade path.

How It Compares

AMD Phenom II X2 550 — The E6800 and the Phenom II X2 550 are effectively tied, with average scores of 337 and a deltaPct of 0.1% in favor of the Intel part. Both are dual-core processors, but the Phenom II is built on a 45 nm process as well. The E6800’s higher clock speed (3.33 GHz versus the Phenom’s unspecified clock) likely offsets any architectural differences. In practice, the two are indistinguishable in benchmark performance.

Intel Core i3-330M — This is a mobile processor, yet it matches the E6800’s average score of 337, with a deltaPct of 0.1%. The i3-330M is a dual-core with Hyper-Threading, but its lower clock speeds and mobile power envelope do not give it a clear edge. The E6800’s desktop socket and higher base clock allow it to keep pace, but the i3-330M’s integrated memory controller and newer architecture (though not specified here) may offer better efficiency. Still, the raw scores are essentially equal.

AMD Phenom X3 8550 — The Phenom X3 8550 has three cores but scores 336, just 0.2% behind the E6800. This is surprising because a triple-core part should have an advantage in multi-threaded workloads. However, the Phenom X3’s lower clock speed and older architecture likely negate its extra core. The E6800’s dual cores at 3.33 GHz manage to edge out the triple-core part, highlighting the importance of clock speed in this generation.

AMD A4-4300M — The A4-4300M is a mobile APU with an average score of 339, making it 0.6% faster than the E6800. This is the only rival that beats the Intel part, albeit by a tiny margin. The A4-4300M includes integrated Radeon graphics, but for CPU-only benchmarks, the difference is negligible. The E6800’s higher base clock (3.33 GHz) versus the A4’s likely lower clock is offset by the A4’s newer architecture.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The E6800’s Cinebench scores reveal a striking imbalance between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In R23, the multicore score of 981 is roughly 7.1 times the single-core score of 138. In R20, the ratio is 412 to 57, also about 7.2 times. This is highly unusual for a processor with only two threads—a perfect scaling would yield a multicore score approximately double the single-core score. The fact that the multicore score is so much higher suggests that the single-core test is disproportionately punishing for this architecture, possibly due to the lack of modern instruction sets or a very low IPC. The multi-thread test, while still low in absolute terms, benefits from the two cores running concurrently, but the single-core result indicates that even a single thread is severely limited. This means the E6800 will struggle with any application that relies heavily on single-threaded performance, such as older games or office software that is not well-threaded. Conversely, workloads that can utilize both cores, like basic video encoding or multitasking, will see relatively better scaling, though the absolute performance remains far below modern standards.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark data, the E6800 is only suitable for very light, legacy use cases. Its 2nd percentile ranking and sub-1000 R23 multicore scores make it inadequate for modern gaming, video editing, or any compute-intensive task. However, for basic office productivity—word processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing with a lightweight browser—the dual cores at 3.33 GHz might still handle single-threaded tasks without excessive lag, though the low single-core score suggests even those could be sluggish. The lack of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is required, which further limits its appeal. The processor could serve as a budget retro gaming rig for titles from the early 2000s, but it will not run any contemporary software comfortably. For anyone maintaining an old Socket 775 system, the E6800 is a drop-in upgrade over slower Pentium 4 parts, but it offers no headroom for future growth. In summary, the E6800 is a historical curiosity rather than a practical daily driver, and its benchmark results confirm that it belongs in a museum or a very undemanding secondary machine.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Pentium E6800?

A: The TDP is 65 W, which is modest for a desktop CPU and allows for simple air cooling.

Q: Does the E6800 have integrated graphics?

A: No, it does not. Integrated graphics are provided only via certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not by the processor itself.

Q: What memory types does the E6800 support?

A: It supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, though the actual support depends on the motherboard’s chipset.

Q: Can the E6800 be overclocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, so the processor runs at its fixed 3.33 GHz base clock without overclocking capability.

Q: How does the E6800 compare to the AMD Phenom II X2 550?

A: The two are essentially identical in average benchmark score (337 for both), with the E6800 being 0.1% faster according to the deltaPct.

Q: What is the release date of the E6800?

A: It was released on 2010-08-28 and is now marked as end-of-life.