Exploring the Performance of Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Processor

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Gaming Benchmarks
   1. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
   2. Crysis
   3. GTA V
   4. CSGO
   5. DOOM
3. Non-Gaming Benchmarks
   1. Cinebench R23
   2. Blender
   3. 7-Zip
4. Power Draw
5. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the performance of the Core 2 Duo E7200 CPU, which belongs to the Wolfdale 3M based E7000 series of Core 2 Duos. This dual-core processor was released thirteen years ago but still holds interest among enthusiasts and those curious about the performance of older hardware. We will be conducting various gaming and non-gaming benchmarks to assess its capabilities in relation to modern standards.

Gaming Benchmarks

👉 Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider proved to be a difficult Game for the E7200 to handle, even at the lowest settings in DirectX11 mode. The game experienced significant lag, making it practically unplayable. This was the case both at stock clocks and when overclocked. Unfortunately, the E7200 falls short in terms of its ability to run this game.

👉 Crysis

Crysis, on the other HAND, showed some surprising results. At low settings in 64-Bit DirectX10 mode, the game ran relatively well, with only slight micro-stuttering and minor hitches during gameplay. However, as the game progressed, the stuttering became more severe, especially in certain areas of the map. Overclocking improved the situation, reducing the severity of the stuttering. While still noticeable, it provided a significant improvement over the stock performance.

👉 GTA V

GTA V presented significant challenges for the E7200. At the lowest settings in DirectX11 mode, the game took a long time to load, and there were issues with texture pop-in on buildings and roads. Whole buildings would pop in and out of existence, making navigation difficult. Micro-stuttering was prevalent throughout the entire map. Despite these challenges, the game was benchmarked successfully.

👉 CSGO

CSGO, a game that has become more demanding over time, exhibited noticeable micro-stuttering throughout the game. This became more apparent during close combat and when multiple teammates were on the screen simultaneously. Combat could be more difficult due to these stutters. Occasional hitches were also observed. Overclocking the E7200 improved performance, with increased average, 1%, and 0.1% low framerates. However, micro-stuttering remained an issue throughout the test.

👉 DOOM

DOOM, the last game in our benchmarks, performed adequately on the E7200 when run in Vulkan mode. However, micro-stuttering was Present, particularly noticeable when moving the camera around large and open areas. The stuttering became worse in the final part of the UAC mission. Despite these issues, the game remained playable, even with the E7200's older architecture.

Non-Gaming Benchmarks

👉 Cinebench R23

In the Cinebench R23 benchmark, the E7200 struggled due to its older architecture and lack of Hyper-threading. At stock clocks, it scored significantly lower in both multi-threaded and single-threaded tests compared to the i3 550, which had hyper-threading disabled. Overclocking the E7200 improved its performance, pushing its scores closer to the stock performance of the i3 550.

👉 Blender

Using the Fishy Cat demo in Blender, the E7200 again faced challenges due to its lack of support for newer instruction sets. It rendered frames much slower than the i3 550, showing a significant difference in performance. Overclocking had a noticeable impact, reducing rendering times but still falling short of the i3 550's performance.

👉 7-Zip

In the 7-Zip benchmark, the E7200 exhibited lower multi-threaded and single-threaded performance compared to the i3 550. Overclocking provided a significant boost to the E7200's scores, allowing it to surpass the stock performance of the i3 550.

Power Draw

When measuring power draw, the E7200 pulled more power compared to the i3 550 at stock clocks. Overclocking further increased the E7200's power consumption. However, at idle, the E7200 consumed less power than the i3 550, both at stock and overclocked speeds. These results demonstrate the efficiency of the newer Core i series architecture.

Conclusion

testing the E7200 has provided interesting insights into the performance of a 13-year-old processor. While it struggles to run modern games effectively, it can still handle less demanding titles. In terms of non-gaming benchmarks, the E7200 falls behind newer processors but can still deliver respectable performance in certain scenarios. The overclocking capabilities of the E7200 show that it can match or even surpass the stock performance of the first-gen Core i series dual-core processors. Despite its limitations, the E7200 provides a fun opportunity to explore the capabilities of older hardware.

Highlights

• The Core 2 Duo E7200 processor, released thirteen years ago, still generates interest among enthusiasts and those curious about the performance of older hardware.
• Gaming benchmarks revealed that the E7200 struggles to handle modern games effectively, but it can still run less demanding titles.
• Non-gaming benchmarks demonstrated that the E7200's performance falls behind that of newer processors but can still deliver respectable results in certain scenarios.
• Overclocking the E7200 showcased a significant improvement in performance, enabling it to match or exceed the stock performance of the first-gen Core i series dual-core processors.
• The power draw of the E7200 was higher than that of the stock i3 550 but consumed less power at idle, highlighting the efficiency of the newer architecture.

FAQ

Q: Can the Core 2 Duo E7200 handle modern games? A: The E7200 struggles to run modern games effectively, especially those with high system requirements. It is more suitable for less demanding titles.

Q: How does the E7200 compare to newer processors in non-gaming benchmarks? A: The E7200 falls behind newer processors in non-gaming benchmarks due to its older architecture. However, it can still deliver respectable performance in certain scenarios.

Q: Can the E7200 be overclocked? A: Yes, the E7200 can be overclocked, providing a significant boost in performance. However, overclocking also increases power consumption.

Q: How does the power draw of the E7200 compare to newer processors? A: The E7200 draws more power than newer processors, such as the i3 550, at stock clocks. However, it consumes less power at idle, highlighting the efficiency of newer architectures.

Q: Is the E7200 a suitable processor for modern tasks and applications? A: While the E7200 may struggle with demanding tasks and applications, it can still handle less resource-intensive activities. Newer processors are generally better suited for modern tasks due to their improved architecture and performance.