C-30
Pentium III 1266S
C-30 vs Pentium III 1266S 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 1266S 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 1266S: 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
- ✅Costs $319 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $369 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 606.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 4.0 vs 0.6 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $369 MSRP).
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Pentium III 1266S needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (201 vs 210).
- ❌1606.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 30W.
Pentium III 1266S
2001Why buy it
- ✅Draws 30W instead of 512W, a 482W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 0.6 vs 4.0 PassMark/$ ($369 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while C-30 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Quick Answers
So, is Pentium III 1266S better than C-30?
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 1266S 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 1266S
The Pentium III 1266S 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: 1.27 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 210 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the C-30 and Pentium III 1266S share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the C-30 versus 1.27 GHz on the Pentium III 1266S — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Pentium III 1266S. The C-30 uses the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture (40 nm), while the Pentium III 1266S uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the C-30 scores 201 against the Pentium III 1266S's 210 — a 4.4% lead for the Pentium III 1266S. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.27 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 40 nm-69% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Ontario (2011−2012) | Tualatin (2000−2002) |
| PassMark | 201 | 210+4% |
Memory & Platform
The C-30 uses the FT1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium III 1266S uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT1 | PGA370 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | No | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | — |
Advanced Features
The C-30 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Pentium III 1266S requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6250 | — |
Value Analysis
At launch, the C-30 was priced at $50, while the Pentium III 1266S came in at $369. On launch pricing ($50 vs $369), C-30 was $319 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the C-30 delivers 4.0 pts/$ vs 0.6 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1266S — making the C-30 the 150.4% better value option.
| Feature | C-30 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-86% | $369 |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.0+567% | 0.6 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2001 |
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