Surprising Performance: Pentium E2220 in 2020 Benchmarks and Gaming

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Intel Pentium E 2220: A Blast from the Past
3. Swapping out the CPU and Graphics Card
4. Performance in Windows XP vs. Windows 10
5. Benchmarking the System
   • 5.1 Synthetic Benchmarks with Passmark Performance Test 9
   • 5.2 Gaming Benchmarks
     • 5.2.1 Portal 2: Surprisingly Good Performance
     • 5.2.2 Cluster Truck: Playable but Lower Settings Required
     • 5.2.3 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: Not Suitable for Competitive Gaming
     • 5.2.4 A Story About My Uncle: Smooth Gameplay
     • 5.2.5 Half-Life 2: Flawless Performance
     • 5.2.6 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Decent Performance
     • 5.2.7 Grand Theft Auto 3: Smooth Gameplay
   • 5.3 Conclusion of Gaming Benchmarks
6. Performance testing on Windows XP
   • 6.1 General Desktop Usage in Windows XP
   • 6.2 Gaming Performance in Windows XP
     • 6.2.1 Far Cry 1: Impressive Performance
     • 6.2.2 Half-Life 2: Excellent Performance
     • 6.2.3 Need for Speed Underground: Solid Frame Rate
     • 6.2.4 Call of Duty 2: Limited Performance
     • 6.2.5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Audio Card Error
     • 6.2.6 Grand Theft Auto 3: Freezing Issue
     • 6.2.7 Passmark Benchmark: Floating Point Division Error
7. Overall Impressions and Future Plans
8. Conclusion
9. Highlights
10. FAQ

🖥️ The Intel Pentium E 2220: A Blast from the Past

In this article, we will delve into the performance of the Intel Pentium E 2220 - a processor that hit the consumer market over a decade ago, back in 2008. Despite its age, this chip was known for offering decent performance and overclocking potential at an attractive price. We will assess whether the Pentium E 2220 still holds up in today's demanding computing environment.

💻 Swapping out the CPU and Graphics Card

Before we jump into the benchmarks, let's discuss the setup process. I had to replace the Intel Pentium 4 631, a single-core processor, with the Pentium E 2220 in the system. Additionally, I upgraded the graphics card from the GeForce 6200A to the more powerful 9800 GTX Plus. While the Pentium E 2220 did have a lower clock speed and smaller L2 cache compared to the Pentium 4 631, I had high expectations due to its true dual-core nature.

🏁 Performance in Windows XP vs. Windows 10

To assess the longevity of the Pentium E 2220, I tested its performance on both Windows XP and Windows 10. I originally intended to include Windows Vista but decided against it due to its reputation. By comparing its performance on different operating systems, we can gauge how well it would have held up back in 2008 and how it performs 12 years later.

However, I encountered some issues with the Windows 10 installation, resulting in a fresh install on a newer SATA drive. While this caused some setbacks, it allowed for a fair comparison between the two operating systems.

⚙️ Benchmarking the System

To evaluate the Pentium E 2220's performance, I conducted a series of benchmarks. Firstly, I used Passmark Performance Test 9, a synthetic benchmark, to assess its overall performance. Additionally, I tested several games of varying graphical intensity, including Portal 2, Cluster Truck, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, A Story About My Uncle, Half-Life 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto 3.

Let's dive into the results and see how the Pentium E 2220's performance holds up in each benchmark.

5.1 Synthetic Benchmarks with Passmark Performance Test 9

Passmark Performance Test 9 provided an overall rating of 795.9 for the system, placing it in the 10th percentile. Although the score was penalized due to monitor limitations, it still reflects the Pentium E 2220's capabilities in a synthetic test.

5.2 Gaming Benchmarks

5.2.1 Portal 2: Surprisingly Good Performance

Running Portal 2 at 1600x900 resolution with high settings (excluding VSync), the Pentium E 2220 achieved an average framerate of 54 FPS. This performance was unexpected but hinted at the processor's ability to handle demanding games.

5.2.2 Cluster Truck: Playable but Lower Settings Required

With Cluster Truck, I had to lower the resolution to 800x600 and select the fantastic preset to achieve playable framerates. The average framerate stabilized at 29 FPS throughout the testing, though longer load times were observed.

5.2.3 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: Not Suitable for Competitive Gaming

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive struggled on the Pentium E 2220 system, even at 720p with the lowest settings. While I couldn't obtain an exact framerate due to overlay issues, it was evident that this Game was not playable in a competitive setting on this configuration.

5.2.4 A Story About My Uncle: Smooth Gameplay

Running A Story About My Uncle at 1600x900 resolution with adjusted FOV and motion blur disabled, the Pentium E 2220 delivered an average framerate of 46 FPS. The gameplay experience was smooth, allowing for immersive storytelling.

5.2.5 Half-Life 2: Flawless Performance

Half-Life 2 was a standout performer on the Pentium E 2220 system. With the highest settings and a resolution of 1600x900, the game achieved an impressive average framerate of 130 FPS. Gameplay was flawless, providing an exceptional gaming experience.

5.2.6 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Decent Performance

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ran smoothly on the system at a resolution of 1440x900 with high settings. The Pentium E 2220 maintained a solid 53 FPS throughout the game, making it a viable option for those nostalgic for this classic title.

5.2.7 Grand Theft Auto 3: Smooth Gameplay

Similar to the previous title, Grand Theft Auto 3 ran well on the system at a resolution of 1600x900 with high settings. With an average framerate exceeding 60 FPS, the Pentium E 2220 provided smooth and enjoyable gameplay.

5.3 Conclusion of Gaming Benchmarks

In conclusion, the Pentium E 2220 showcased surprising performance in some games, with titles like Portal 2 and Half-Life 2 running smoothly at higher settings. However, more demanding games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive struggled to deliver playable framerates. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto 3 offered decent performance, while optimization issues were encountered with games such as Cluster Truck.

🌟 Highlights

• The Intel Pentium E 2220, released in 2008, remains capable in today's demanding computing environment.
• Performance tests were conducted on both Windows XP and Windows 10 to evaluate the chip's longevity.
• Synthetic benchmarks with Passmark Performance Test 9 yielded an overall rating of 795.9, placing the system in the 10th percentile.
• Gaming benchmarks showcased surprising performance, with games like Portal 2 and Half-Life 2 running smoothly at higher settings.
• However, more demanding games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive proved challenging for the Pentium E 2220.

FAQ

Q: Can the Pentium E 2220 be overclocked? A: Yes, the Pentium E 2220 was known for its overclocking capabilities, reaching over 3 GHz with the Intel stock cooler.

Q: Did you encounter any issues with hardware compatibility? A: While the Pentium E 2220 worked fine in the system, it's worth noting that it was not officially supported by the motherboard. However, I did not experience any noticeable performance decrease due to this lack of support.

Q: What are your future plans for the Pentium E 2220? A: I am considering overclocking the chip in the future. However, I plan to purchase additional RAM to potentially alleviate any performance bottlenecks observed during testing.

Q: Can the Pentium E 2220 run newer operating systems like Windows 7? A: While not tested in this article, Windows 7 may offer a sweet spot in terms of compatibility, performance, and support for the Pentium E 2220.

Q: What is the lowest score recorded in Passmark Performance Test 9? A: The lowest score ever recorded was zero, which raises curiosity about the extreme underclocking required to achieve such a result.