Intel Pentium E6700 Dual-Core 3.20 GHz is one of the most powerful CPUs of Intel’s Pentium lineup of processors. But is it suitable for any high-end gamers who want to play modern games at optimum configuration settings?
There are two primary specifications that people check before buying any processor namely clock frequency and core count. And with the technology getting more and more complex, the legacy dual-core CPUs have become obsolete.
But are they capable enough yet?
If you are going to upgrade your budget gaming setup and tend to find corners to cut irrelevant expenditure, then you are probably wondering whether a dual-core CPU like Intel Pentium E6700 Dual-Core 3.20 GHz is any good for gaming. In this blog post, we will comprehensively answer this question keeping all key aspects into consideration and comparing the Pentium series with AMD’s A-series and Intel Celeron processors.
How to opt for a CPU For Gaming
First of all, let’s discuss just how important and relevant a multi-core CPU is for better gaming performance.
In reality, people usually either overestimate or underestimate the importance of a CPU or processor while buying or building a gaming PC. Indeed, some jump on a bandwagon to needlessly invest in high-end i7 CPUs while others neglect the importance of CPU and end up choking the chances of having an appropriate CPU with the necessary number of core counts.
Undoubtedly, the GPU is the primary component in a gaming PC. The GPU you opt for should be the parameter by which a CPU is measured. The most important factor to consider your CPU can push the GPU to its maximum limit.
Let’s discuss if dual-cores CPUs are capable enough to produce fruitful results, given that games these days are developed to leverage on the multiple cores and threads that only newer-gen CPU models offer.
Dual-Core CPUs available in the market
There is a limited selection of dual-core CPUs available in the market today, and we will be mentioning only the series which can still be bought new or refurbished (with manufacturer’s warranty), excluding the discontinued variants that can only be acquired as pre-owned and doubtful products.
AMD A-Series
Featuring the FM2 socket, A-series AMD processors come along with integrated graphics and are the most renowned in laptops and non-gaming desktop PCs. While they are quite relevant in such systems, they offer underwhelming gaming performance.
Namely, even the most powerful A-series processor ends up bottlenecking an entry-level Nvidia GPU GTX 1050. This means that they will be stressed out during games, generating a lot of heat, all the while the GPU will not be able to unleash its full potential if used with A-series chips.
Keeping in mind how outdated the FM2 socket is, it becomes crystal clear as to why these CPUs are the wrong choice for any gaming setup.
Intel Celeron
The Intel Celeron series of CPUs is very close to the AMD A-series in every aspect including price, performance, and the target consumer market. A slight advantage that they possess over AMD, is that they use the same LGA1151 socket that all recent Intel processors use making many upgrade options available if you opt for the Celeron series, without changing the motherboard.
All in all, if you need the cheapest possible CPU considering scalability and eliminating any chance of future upgrades, then any of the latest Celeron CPUs can be a good choice but it will restrict you from playing any modern-age games.
Intel Pentium
Once upon a time, if any PC has a Pentium CPU, it would definitely have been termed as a beast. Today, however, the series had lost that kind of glamour and now serves only as a transition between low-end and moderate-level CPUs.
In terms of performance, it is far better than Celeron and A-series processors, and the only gaming-worthy dual-core available for the entry-level gaming experience. The Intel Pentium E6700 Dual-Core 3.20 GHz CPU even surpasses the two aforementioned series and is closer to an older-gen Core i3 CPU in terms of performance.
It also uses the LGA1151 chipset, which allows it to maintain the upgrade potential like the Celeron series and at the same time far more powerful.
Dual-Core CPUs – Use Cases
If you are going to play modern games and expect dual-core processors to be your cup of tea, it is highly recommended to rethink your decision and refrain from choosing dual-core CPUs, at least not in the majority of cases.
While they are more than a fit for the non-gamers, current dual-core processors will end up choking the performance of all the entry-level GPUs upto a notable extent.
There are only two situations where you should consider buying a dual-core CPU:
- You try to get it as a temporary solution before you upgrade in the near future
In the said case, we recommend you to opt for a Celeron series since it is the cheapest by far and will still allow your entry-level GPU to run but not with its full potential.
- Your budget abstains you from choosing otherwise
If you are just keen to put together a budget gaming PC, then we still recommend sticking with Intel (preferably Pentium series) for slightly improved performance, if you can afford it. If not, go for a Celeron. It is better to refrain from buying AMD A-series as it limits your upgrade potential results in poor performance and runs much hotter.
Conclusion
Given their downside of notably choking the performance of even entry-level graphics cards, dual-core processors are not good for gaming in 2022.
If you want to play low-end games like Counter-Strike 1.6 and GTA vice city you can opt for Intel Pentium E6700 Dual-Core 3.20 GHz to extract the most out of the Intel Pentium series. It is recommended for you to save up some extra money and get an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor for a smooth gaming experience that you won’t be able to experience with any dual-core series.
