Core i3-3229Y vs Pentium B950
Core i3-3229Y
Pentium B950
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 i3-3229Y is positioned at rank 437 and the Pentium B950 is on rank 1142, so the Core i3-3229Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3229Y
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3229Y | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3229Y | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 i3-3229Y and Pentium B950
Core i3-3229Y
The Core i3-3229Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,014 points. Launch price was $250.
Pentium B950
The Pentium B950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,022 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3229Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium B950's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core i3-3229Y versus 2.1 GHz on the Pentium B950 — a 40% clock advantage for the Pentium B950 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i3-3229Y uses the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium B950 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3229Y scores 1,014 against the Pentium B950's 1,022 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium B950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 379, a 8% lead for the Pentium B950 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 671 (2.1% advantage for the Pentium B950). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3229Y vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B950.
| Feature | Core i3-3229Y | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.1 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.1 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,014 | 1,022 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 379+8% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 671+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3229Y uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium B950 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-3229Y supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM77,UM77 (Core i3-3229Y) and HM65,HM67 (Pentium B950).
| Feature | Core i3-3229Y | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3229Y) vs VT-x (Pentium B950). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3229Y) and Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Pentium B950) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3229Y targets Budget, Pentium B950 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3229Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050GE.
| Feature | Core i3-3229Y | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4000 | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
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