Atom N550 vs Pentium G6960
Atom N550
Pentium G6960
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Atom N550 is positioned at rank 618 and the Pentium G6960 is on rank 881, so the Atom N550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N550
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N550 | Pentium G6960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N550 | Pentium G6960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Atom N550 and Pentium G6960
Atom N550
The Atom N550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,435 points. Launch price was $86.
Pentium G6960
The Pentium G6960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,433 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Atom N550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G6960's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Atom N550 versus 0.93 GHz on the Pentium G6960 — a 46.9% clock advantage for the Atom N550 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The Atom N550 uses the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G6960 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N550 scores 1,435 against the Pentium G6960's 1,433 — a 0.1% lead for the Atom N550. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom N550 vs 3072 kB (total) on the Pentium G6960.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Pentium G6960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz+61% | 0.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.93 GHz+95% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3072 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Pineview (2009−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,435 | 1,433 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N550 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G6960 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Pentium G6960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
The Atom N550 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3150), while the Pentium G6960 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Pentium G6960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3150 | — |
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