Core i3-330E vs Pentium G6950
Core i3-330E
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 i3-330E is positioned at rank 1157 and the Pentium G6950 is on rank 909, so the Pentium G6950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-330E
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-330E | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-330E | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+254%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($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 i3-330E and Pentium G6950
Core i3-330E
The Core i3-330E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,260 points. Launch price was $177.
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 i3-330E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G6950's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Core i3-330E versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G6950 — a 195.8% clock advantage for the Pentium G6950 (base: 2.13 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-330E uses the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G6950 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-330E scores 1,260 against the Pentium G6950's 1,252 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-330E. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-330E vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G6950.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.03 GHz | 2.8 GHz+9233% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 2.8 GHz+31% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere (2010−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,260 | 1,252 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-330E uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G6950 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-330E launched at $177 MSRP, while the Pentium G6950 debuted at $87. At current prices ($89 vs $25), the Pentium G6950 is $64 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-330E delivers 14.2 pts/$ vs 50.1 pts/$ for the Pentium G6950 — making the Pentium G6950 the 111.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $177 | $87-51% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $89 | $25-72% |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.2 | 50.1+253% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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