CPU
GPU
Core i3-370M
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
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 i3-370M is positioned at rank 570 and the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is on rank 1119, so the Core i3-370M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-370M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-370M | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Presler (2005−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-370M | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 i3-370M and Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Core i3-370M
The Core i3-370M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,170 points. Launch price was $245.
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
The Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 March 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.733 GHz, with boost up to 0.73 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,165 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-370M and Pentium Extreme Edition 965 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-370M versus 0.73 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — a 106.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-370M (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.733 GHz). The Core i3-370M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-370M scores 1,170 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 1,165 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-370M.
| Feature | Core i3-370M | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+229% | 0.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.733 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Presler (2005−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,170 | 1,165 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 315 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-370M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-370M | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-370M) / not specified (Pentium Extreme Edition 965). The Core i3-370M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-370M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-370M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | Core i3-370M | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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