Is the Pentium E5800 Still Worth Gaming On? | Benchmarks and Gaming

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Specifications of the Pentium E5800
3. Performance in Cinebench R15
4. Overclocking the E5800
5. Gaming Performance - Grand Theft Auto 5
6. Gaming Performance - CS:GO
7. Gaming Performance - Warframe
8. Gaming Performance - Rise of the Tomb Raider
9. Overclocked Gaming Performance
10. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the Intel Pentium E5800, a dual-core processor released back in 2010. Despite its age, we will explore whether this processor can still be used for gaming on a budget system today. We will examine its specifications, benchmark its performance in various tasks, and test its gaming capabilities on both stock and overclocked settings. So, let's dive right in and see if the Pentium E5800 is worth considering for your gaming needs.

Specifications of the Pentium E5800

The Pentium E5800 is based on the Wolfdale architecture and is clocked at 3.2GHz. It features a dual-core design without Hyper-threading or turbo-boosting capabilities. With an 800MHz front side bus and a TDP of 65W, this processor is built on the 45nm fabrication process. Although it was originally launched with a price tag of $75, it can now be found at a bargain price of around 50p. With its affordability and potential for overclocking, let's see if the Pentium E5800 can still deliver decent performance in today's gaming scene.

Performance in Cinebench R15

To evaluate the processor's multitasking performance, we ran the Cinebench R15 benchmark. This popular benchmark renders a photo-realistic 3D scene and tests the processor's ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Surprisingly, the E5800 managed to outperform the Core 2 Duo E7400, a higher-clocked processor, with a score of 158 compared to 146. This showcases the E5800's capability, especially after we pushed it to a stable overclock of 4.1GHz. At this overclocked speed, the E5800 achieved a score of 203, only 5.4% slower than the Core i5 3317u.

Overclocking the E5800

The Pentium E5800 proved to be a great contender for overclocking. We were able to achieve a stable overclock of 4.1GHz by adjusting the front side bus speed and voltage. With this overclock, the E5800 showcased improved performance in both benchmark tests and games. It's important to note that we had to reduce the memory clock to 667MHz to maintain stability during gaming Sessions. Overall, this processor offers a decent overclocking potential, allowing budget gamers to squeeze out extra performance.

Gaming Performance - Grand Theft Auto 5

In our gaming tests, we started with Grand Theft Auto 5, a popular Game that was released in 2015. Running the game at the lowest settings and 1080p resolution, the Pentium E5800 struggled to deliver smooth gameplay. While the game was playable with an overclocked speed of 4.1GHz, there were still noticeable micro-stutters and occasional lockups. The average framerate hovered around the high 20s to high 30s, making it less than ideal for an enjoyable gaming experience.

Gaming Performance - CS:GO

Moving on to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), we encountered similar performance issues with the Pentium E5800. Although the game ran reasonably smooth, especially after overclocking, there were occasional stutters and drops in framerate. The average framerate ranged from the mid-30s to the mid-80s, making combat somewhat difficult. While the game was playable, it's clear that the E5800 struggles with more demanding titles.

Gaming Performance - Warframe

Next, we tested Warframe, a game released in 2013. Despite its age, the Pentium E5800 could only deliver inconsistent framerates in this game. Fps ranged from the low 40s to the high 80s, depending on the location and number of enemies. There were noticeable micro-stutters and occasional lockups, especially when turning the camera. While the game was playable, it did not offer a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout.

Gaming Performance - Rise of the Tomb Raider

In our testing of Rise of the Tomb Raider, the Pentium E5800 struggled to deliver satisfactory performance. The game exhibited severe stuttering and frequent drops in framerate below 20 fps. Combat became challenging due to the performance issues, including texture pop-in and noticeable lockups. With an average framerate of 31 fps and poor 1% and 0.1% low framerates, it's clear that the E5800 is not suitable for running this game smoothly.

Overclocked Gaming Performance

With the E5800 overclocked to 4.1GHz, we observed an improvement in gaming performance across all tested games. Grand Theft Auto 5 became somewhat playable, with fewer micro-stutters and lockups. CS:GO showcased a significant boost in framerate and smoother gameplay. Warframe also saw noticeable improvements, with a more consistent framerate and fewer issues with micro-stuttering. However, Rise of the Tomb Raider remained unplayable despite the overclock.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Intel Pentium E5800 offers budget gamers an affordable option for older or less demanding games. Its ability to overclock provides some additional performance, making it somewhat playable in select titles. However, for more modern and demanding games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Rise of the Tomb Raider, the E5800 struggles to deliver smooth and enjoyable gameplay, even with overclocking. If you are on a tight budget and primarily play older games, the Pentium E5800 could be a viable option. Otherwise, it's recommended to invest in a more capable processor for a better gaming experience.

Highlights:

1. The Intel Pentium E5800, a dual-core processor released in 2010, is still usable for gaming on a budget system.
2. With overclocking, the E5800 performance can be improved, but it still struggles with more modern and demanding games.
3. The processor's multitasking performance is tested using the Cinebench R15 benchmark.
4. Grand Theft Auto 5, CS:GO, Warframe, and Rise of the Tomb Raider are used to evaluate the gaming performance of the E5800.
5. Overclocking the E5800 provides a boost in gaming performance, but it is still not sufficient for smooth gameplay in demanding titles.

FAQs:

Q: Can the Pentium E5800 be used for gaming in 2021? A: The Pentium E5800 can still be used for gaming, but primarily for older or less demanding games. More modern and demanding titles may not run smoothly on this processor.

Q: Can the Pentium E5800 be overclocked? A: Yes, the Pentium E5800 can be overclocked, and it shows improvements in gaming performance when overclocked to 4.1GHz. However, the overclocking potential may vary depending on individual hardware.

Q: Is the Pentium E5800 suitable for multitasking? A: The Pentium E5800 performs decently in multitasking scenarios, as demonstrated by its performance in the Cinebench R15 benchmark. However, it is important to note that this processor is more suitable for light multitasking rather than heavy workloads.