Core i3-3229Y vs Pentium B960

CPU

GPU

Core i3-3229Y

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2013

Pentium B960

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2011

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-3229Y

2 / 4

1,014

0.0%

1,019

+0.5%

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 B960 is on rank 1144, so the Core i3-3229Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3229Y

#425

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

579%

#426

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

570%

#427

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

523%

#428

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

521%

#429

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

516%

#431

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

499%

#432

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

478%

#433

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

477%

#434

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

464%

#437

Core i3-3229Y

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium B960

#1132

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3861%

#1133

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3804%

#1134

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3492%

#1135

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3476%

#1136

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3444%

#1138

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3326%

#1139

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3189%

#1140

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3184%

#1141

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3099%

#1144

Pentium B960

MSRP: $134|Avg: $15

100%

#1146

Pentium 957

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

100%

#1147

Core 2 Duo SL9400

MSRP: $284|Avg: N/A

99%

#1149

Pentium N3540

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

99%

#1150

Core i7-3555LE

MSRP: $300|Avg: $280

98%

#1151

Core i3-2377M

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

97%

#1152

Core 2 Duo E8435

MSRP: $150|Avg: $74

97%

#1153

Celeron M 723

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

96%

#1154

Core M-5Y51

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

95%

#1155

Core i7-3517UE

MSRP: $330|Avg: $35

95%

#1156

Pentium N3530

MSRP: $161|Avg: $20

95%

#1157

Core i3-330E

MSRP: $177|Avg: $89

94%

#1159

Core i7-2640M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Pentium B960 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i3-3229Y in both compute-intensive tasks (0.5% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i3-3229Y	Pentium B960
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($15)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) / 22 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i3-3229Y	Pentium B960
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($15)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-3229Y Benchmark Check

Pentium B960 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-3229Y and Pentium B960

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 B960

The Pentium B960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 1,019 points. Launch price was $134.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-3229Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium B960's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core i3-3229Y versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Pentium B960 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i3-3229Y uses the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium B960 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3229Y scores 1,014 against the Pentium B960's 1,019 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium B960. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 383, a 9% lead for the Pentium B960 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 679 (3.3% advantage for the Pentium B960). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3229Y vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B960.

Feature	Core i3-3229Y	Pentium B960
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.4 GHz	2.2 GHz+57%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	2.2 GHz+57%
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	1,019
Geekbench 6 Single	350	383+9%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	679+3%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-3229Y uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium B960 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 HM76 (Pentium B960).

Feature	Core i3-3229Y	Pentium B960
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: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3229Y) / not specified (Pentium B960). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3229Y) and HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Pentium B960) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3229Y targets Budget, Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3229Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050GE; Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.