Core 2 Solo SU3500 vs Pentium G860
Core 2 Solo SU3500
Pentium G860
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 Core 2 Solo SU3500 is positioned at rank 1195 and the Pentium G860 is on rank 861, so the Pentium G860 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Solo SU3500
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+137%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) |
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 Core 2 Solo SU3500 and Pentium G860
Core 2 Solo SU3500
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 5.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,468 points. Launch price was $262.
Pentium G860
The Pentium G860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,485 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Pentium G860 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium G860 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Solo SU3500 versus 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 — a 72.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G860 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Solo SU3500 scores 1,468 against the Pentium G860's 1,485 — a 1.2% lead for the Pentium G860. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core 2 Solo SU3500 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 3 GHz+114% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3 GHz+131% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+1100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,468 | 1,485+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G860 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Solo SU3500) / VT-x (Pentium G860). The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 launched at $262 MSRP, while the Pentium G860 debuted at $86. At current prices ($15 vs $36), the Core 2 Solo SU3500 is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Solo SU3500 delivers 97.9 pts/$ vs 41.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G860 — making the Core 2 Solo SU3500 the 81.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $262 | $86-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-58% | $36 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.9+137% | 41.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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