Core i3-2330M vs Pentium G6950
Core i3-2330M
Pentium G6950
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 i3-2330M is positioned at rank 679 and the Pentium G6950 is on rank 909, so the Core i3-2330M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2330M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2330M | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2330M | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 i3-2330M and Pentium G6950
Core i3-2330M
The Core i3-2330M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $225.
Pentium G6950
The Pentium G6950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,252 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2330M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G6950's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-2330M versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G6950 — a 24% clock advantage for the Pentium G6950 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-2330M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G6950 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2330M scores 1,248 against the Pentium G6950's 1,252 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium G6950. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-2330M | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,248 | 1,252 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2330M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G6950 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2330M | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i3-2330M) / not specified (Pentium G6950). The Core i3-2330M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Pentium G6950 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i3-2330M rivals AMD A6-3400M.
| Feature | Core i3-2330M | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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