A6-7000 vs Pentium D 960

A6-7000 vs Pentium D 960 Performance Spectrum

A6-7000

2 / 2

1,002

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium D 960

2 / 2

1,005

+0.3%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A6-7000 vs Pentium D 960 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A6-7000 vs Pentium D 960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A6-7000

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $423 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Delivers 421.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.0 vs 1.9 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 130W, a 129W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R4 Graphics, while Pentium D 960 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,002 vs 1,005).

Pentium D 960

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.9 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($523 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
❌12900% higher power demand at 130W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A6-7000 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 960 better than A6-7000?

Yes. Pentium D 960 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 960 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium D 960 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium D 960 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Pentium D 960 comes in 423.0% more expensive on MSRP at $523 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. A6-7000 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 0.4% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A6-7000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A6-7000 vs Pentium D 960 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A6-7000

The A6-7000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,002 points. Launch price was $70.

Pentium D 960

The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the A6-7000 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the A6-7000 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A6-7000 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the A6-7000 scores 1,002 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium D 960.

Feature	A6-7000	Pentium D 960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.6 GHz+64%
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1024 kB	2 MB (total)+100%
Process	28 nm-57%	65 nm
Architecture	Kaveri (2014−2015)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	1,002	1,005

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-7000 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium D 960 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A6-7000	Pentium D 960
Socket	FT3	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+173%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (A6-7000) / not specified (Pentium D 960). The A6-7000 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R4 Graphics), while the Pentium D 960 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-7000 rivals Pentium 3556U.

Feature	A6-7000	Pentium D 960
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Radeon R4 Graphics	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A6-7000 was priced at $100, while the Pentium D 960 came in at $523. On launch pricing ($100 vs $523), A6-7000 was $423 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A6-7000 delivers 10.0 pts/$ vs 1.9 pts/$ for the Pentium D 960 — making the A6-7000 the 135.6% better value option.

Feature	A6-7000	Pentium D 960
MSRP	$100-81%	$523
Performance per Dollar	10.0+426%	1.9
Release Date	2014	2006

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