C-30 vs Pentium III 1200
C-30
Pentium III 1200
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 C-30 is positioned at rank 1226 and the Pentium III 1200 is on rank 1126, so the Pentium III 1200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar C-30
Performance Per Dollar Pentium III 1200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ontario (2011−2012) / 40 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+46%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 C-30 and Pentium III 1200
C-30
The C-30 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 201 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium III 1200
The Pentium III 1200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 195 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the C-30 and Pentium III 1200 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the C-30 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium III 1200 — identical boost frequencies. The C-30 uses the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture (40 nm), while the Pentium III 1200 uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the C-30 scores 201 against the Pentium III 1200's 195 — a 3% lead for the C-30. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB |
| Process | 40 nm-69% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Ontario (2011−2012) | Tualatin (2000−2002) |
| PassMark | 201+3% | 195 |
Memory & Platform
The C-30 uses the FT1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium III 1200 uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the C-30 versus SDR-133 on the Pentium III 1200 — the C-30 supports -209.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium III 1200 supports up to 512 MB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 196.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (C-30) vs 0 (Pentium III 1200) — the C-30 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT1 | PGA370 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | SDR-133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+700% | 512 MB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (C-30) / None (Pentium III 1200). The C-30 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Pentium III 1200 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium III 1200 targets Legacy.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6250 | — |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | None |
| Target Use | — | Legacy |
Value Analysis
The C-30 launched at $50 MSRP, while the Pentium III 1200 debuted at $200. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Pentium III 1200 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the C-30 delivers 13.4 pts/$ vs 19.5 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1200 — making the Pentium III 1200 the 37.1% better value option.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-75% | $200 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.4 | 19.5+46% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2001 |
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