Intel Pentium E2220 2-core LGA775
The 2.4GHz Pentium Dual Core E2220 pairs two cores and two threads with a 1MB L2 cache on the LGA775 socket, making it a basic entry-level processor for legacy builds. Sold as a tray version without a heatsink or fan, it is a tested, fully functional unit that works like new, backed by a 3-year manufacturer warranty. This CPU suits budget-conscious users upgrading an older LGA775 desktop for everyday tasks like web browsing and office work, not for gaming or AI workloads.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The E2220 scores 844 on PassMark multi-thread, landing in the 17th percentile. It's a dual-core 2.4GHz LGA775 chip with 1MB L2 cache that's only worth buying for retro builds or legacy repairs. At USD 69 or EUR 111 plus, you're paying a lot for very little performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dirt cheap on the used market, 84th percentile for affordability 84th
- Dual-core design handles basic tasks without completely choking
- LGA775 compatibility means it drops into tons of old boards
- Low power draw for its era, won't stress an old PSU
- Decent single-thread score of 901 for a chip this old
Cons
- 844 PassMark multi-thread puts it in the 17th percentile
- AI performance is a brutal 14.3 out of 100
- 1MB L2 cache is tiny by modern standards
- Efficiency ranks in the 10th percentile
- No modern instruction sets, so some software won't even run
The proof
Performance
Let's talk numbers. The E2220 pulls 844 on PassMark multi-thread and 901 single-thread. Both land in the 17th percentile of our database. For context, a modern budget chip scores in the thousands, often tens of thousands. This thing handles web browsing and light office work if you're patient, but anything beyond that is a slideshow. The 2.4GHz base clock and 1MB L2 cache were fine for 2008, but modern software expects more cache, more cores, and instruction sets this chip simply doesn't have.
AI workloads are the weakest spot at 14.3 out of 100, which puts it at the 14th percentile. That's not surprising. No AVX, no modern extensions, just two old cores trying their best. Productivity scores 18.6 and budget value sits at 42, which tells you the only real appeal here is the price tag. If you're building a retro rig or need a drop-in replacement for an old Dell, it works. For anything else, it's a hard pass.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Brand | Intel |
| Series | Pentium |
| Model | E2220 |
| Class | desktop |
Cores & Clocks
| Cores | 2 |
| Threads | 2 |
| Base Clock | 2400 |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 1 |
Performance
| PassMark Multi | 844 |
| PassMark Single | 901 |
Memory
| Max Speed | 800 |
Platform & Power
| Socket | LGA775 |
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the E2220 is in rough shape. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X scores somewhere in the stratosphere on PassMark compared to this chip's 844. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 and the PC Server and Parts E5-2697 v2-cr are both old server parts, but they bring more cores and threads to the table, which matters for anything multi-threaded. Even the be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5, which is a cooler not a CPU, probably has better resale value. The DAKboard CPU v4 is a niche ARM board that at least sips power. The E2220's only real advantage is LGA775 compatibility and the fact that it's cheap enough to be disposable. If you need a chip for an old board, this is your guy. If you need actual performance, every competitor here wins.
| Spec | Intel Pentium E2220 | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D | HP Xeon 6526Y | CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor | MICRO CENTER 9950X3DMAGX870ETMKWF | G.Skill Trident Z Neo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 2 | 16 | 16 | 24 | - | 6 |
| Threads | 2 | 32 | 32 | 48 | - | 12 |
| Boost Clock Mhz | - | 5700 | 3900 | 4000 | - | 4200 |
| L3 Cache Mb | - | 128 | 37 | 128 | - | 32 |
| Tdp W | - | 120 | 195 | 200 | - | 65 |
| Socket | LGA775 | AM5 | LGA 4677 | AMD Socket SP3 | - | AMD Socket AM4 |
| Integrated Graphics | - | AMD Radeon Graphics | No | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Social Proof | Affordability | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Pentium E2220 | 13.9 | 20.6 | 35.6 | 9.9 | 16.7 | 46.5 | 83.8 | 17.1 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Compare | 96 | 98.6 | 92.4 | 97 | 95.7 | 84.4 | 14.5 | 92.9 |
| HP Xeon 6526Y Compare | 92.1 | 77.2 | 90.8 | 79.3 | 89.9 | 0 | 2.7 | 80.5 |
| CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor Compare | 94.8 | 77.2 | 84.5 | 85.1 | 93.9 | 36.3 | 5.1 | 80.4 |
| MICRO CENTER 9950X3DMAGX870ETMKWF Compare | 85.8 | 20.6 | 17.4 | 66.5 | 97.1 | 0 | 6.3 | 98.4 |
| G.Skill Trident Z Neo Compare | 72.3 | 87.4 | 78.9 | 84.2 | 72 | 0 | 20.3 | 72.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
The price situation is all over the place. In the US you can grab one for USD 69, which feels steep for a chip this old. European listings range from EUR 111 to EUR 158, a spread of EUR 47 across three listings. That's a huge gap for the same processor. If you're in Europe, shop around. The cheapest EUR listing is the only one worth considering, and even then you're paying a premium for old hardware. The 84th percentile affordability ranking is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, because at USD 69 or EUR 111 plus, you're dangerously close to used modern chips that absolutely destroy this thing.
Amazon 1 offer From R$774
Price History
Read more
Overview
The Intel Pentium E2220 scores 844 on PassMark multi-thread and 901 single-thread. That puts it in the 17th percentile for both, which is a polite way of saying this chip gets lapped by basically anything made in the last decade. It's a dual-core 2.4GHz part on LGA775 with 1MB of L2 cache, and it was a budget option back when it launched. In 2025, it's a museum piece that still boots.
Our database gives it a total score of 19.2 out of 100. The affordability ranking is actually decent at the 84th percentile, but that's because you can find these for pocket change, not because it's a smart buy. The feature set sits at the 21st percentile and efficiency is down at the 10th. This is a chip for people with very specific needs, like keeping an old Windows XP machine alive or testing LGA775 motherboards.
Common Questions
Q: Can this run Windows 10 or 11?
Windows 10 will technically run, but it won't be pleasant. The E2220 lacks modern instruction sets that Windows 11 requires, so 11 is off the table. With 844 PassMark multi-thread, expect slow boot times and laggy multitasking on 10. Stick with Windows 7 or a lightweight Linux distro for the best experience.
Q: Is this good for gaming?
Not really. The 17th percentile multi-thread score means modern games won't run well, and many won't launch at all due to missing instruction sets. You could play retro titles or 2D indie games, but anything from the last decade will struggle. The single-thread score of 901 is the only bright spot, and it's still far below what even budget modern chips deliver.
Q: What motherboard do I need?
You need an LGA775 board with an 800MHz front-side bus. That covers a huge range of old Intel boards from the Core 2 era. Check your board's CPU support list before buying, because not all LGA775 boards support the E2220's 65nm Conroe core. The 1MB L2 cache and 2.4GHz clock are the key specs to match.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need a computer for anything beyond basic tasks. The 14.3 out of 100 AI score and 10th percentile efficiency mean it's useless for modern workloads. If you're building a new system, even a USD 100 used office PC will run circles around this. The only people who should buy an E2220 are retro enthusiasts, legacy hardware testers, or someone replacing a dead chip in an old machine they refuse to retire. Everyone else should put the USD 69 toward something made in the last decade.
Verdict
The Intel Pentium E2220 is a relic that still technically works. The 844 PassMark score and 17th percentile rankings tell the story. It's fine for retro builds, legacy hardware testing, or keeping an ancient family PC alive for email and solitaire. But at USD 69 or EUR 111 and up, you're paying collector prices for a chip that can't keep up with a Raspberry Pi. The 4.4 out of 5 customer rating from 14 reviews suggests the people buying this know exactly what they're getting. If that's you, go for it. If you're expecting a daily driver, look elsewhere.
Usage Scores
- Overall19.3
- AI/LLM14.3
- Budget41.8
- Gaming16.8
- Server14.9
- Efficiency14.5
- Productivity18.7