C-30 vs Pentium III 1400S

AMD

C-30

1 Cores1 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium III 1400S

1 Cores1 Thrd32 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2002
Similar parts
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C-30 vs Pentium III 1400S 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 1400S: 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

2011

Why buy it

  • Costs $200 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
  • Delivers 340.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 4.0 vs 0.9 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Pentium III 1400S needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium III 1400S across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (201 vs 228).
  • 1500% higher power demand at 512W vs 32W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Pentium III 1400S.

Pentium III 1400S

2002

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +20.0% higher average FPS across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 32W instead of 512W, a 480W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike C-30.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 0.9 vs 4.0 PassMark/$ ($250 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 1400S better than C-30?
Yes. Pentium III 1400S is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 20.0% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data and 13.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Pentium III 1400S is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 20.0% more average FPS across 25 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium III 1400S is the stronger fit. You are getting 13.4% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Pentium III 1400S is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Pentium III 1400S comes in 400.0% more expensive on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $50 MSRP, and it still gives you a 20.0% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data. C-30 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 20.0% in the shared gaming data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
C-30 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2002). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

C-30 vs Pentium III 1400S Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Pentium III 1400S

The Pentium III 1400S 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: 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 32 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 228 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the C-30 and Pentium III 1400S share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the C-30 versus 1.4 GHz on the Pentium III 1400S — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Pentium III 1400S. The C-30 uses the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture (40 nm), while the Pentium III 1400S uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the C-30 scores 201 against the Pentium III 1400S's 228 — a 12.6% lead for the Pentium III 1400S. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureC-30Pentium III 1400S
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
1 / 1
Boost Clock
1.2 GHz
1.4 GHz+17%
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
228+13%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The C-30 uses the FT1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium III 1400S uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the C-30 versus PC133 on the Pentium III 1400S — the C-30 supports 701.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (C-30) vs 0 (Pentium III 1400S) — the C-30 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD BGA413 (C-30) and Intel 815,VIA Apollo Pro 133T (Pentium III 1400S).

FeatureC-30Pentium III 1400S
Socket
FT1
PGA370
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0+82%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066+702%
PC133
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB
4 GB
RAM Channels
1
1
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
4
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (C-30) / No (Pentium III 1400S). The C-30 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Pentium III 1400S requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureC-30Pentium III 1400S
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6250
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
No
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the C-30 was priced at $50, while the Pentium III 1400S came in at $250. On launch pricing ($50 vs $250), C-30 was $200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the C-30 delivers 4.0 pts/$ vs 0.9 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1400S — making the C-30 the 126% better value option.

FeatureC-30Pentium III 1400S
MSRP
$50-80%
$250
Performance per Dollar
4.0+344%
0.9
Release Date
2011
2002

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