C-30
Pentium III 1200
C-30 vs Pentium III 1200 Performance Spectrum
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.
C-30 vs Pentium III 1200 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
C-30 vs Pentium III 1200: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
C-30
2011Why buy it
- ✅+3.1% higher PassMark.
- ✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 312.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 4.0 vs 1.0 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Pentium III 1200 needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌1606.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 30W.
Pentium III 1200
2001Why buy it
- ✅Draws 30W instead of 512W, a 482W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (195 vs 201).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.0 vs 4.0 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while C-30 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Quick Answers
So, is C-30 better than Pentium III 1200?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
C-30 vs Pentium III 1200 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
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 -901.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The C-30 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 512 MB — 700% 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 | No | No |
| 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
At launch, the C-30 was priced at $50, while the Pentium III 1200 came in at $200. On launch pricing ($50 vs $200), C-30 was $150 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the C-30 delivers 4.0 pts/$ vs 1.0 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1200 — making the C-30 the 121.9% better value option.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-75% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.0+300% | 1.0 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2001 |
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