
Core i7-620LM vs Pentium G860

Core i7-620LM

Pentium G860
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 i7-620LM is positioned at rank 1208 and the Pentium G860 is on rank 861, so the Pentium G860 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-620LM
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($36) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+746%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($36) |
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 i7-620LM and Pentium G860

Core i7-620LM
The Core i7-620LM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,463 points. Launch price was $300.

Pentium G860
The Pentium G860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,485 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Core i7-620LM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G860's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core i7-620LM versus 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 — a 6.9% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-620LM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G860 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-620LM scores 1,463 against the Pentium G860's 1,485 — a 1.5% lead for the Pentium G860. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-620LM vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860.
| Feature | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,463 | 1,485+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 900 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-620LM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G860 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Pentium G860 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-620LM) vs VT-x (Pentium G860). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i7-620LM) and HD Graphics (Pentium G860) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620LM targets Budget, Pentium G860 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-620LM rivals Ryzen 5 3500U.
| Feature | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-620LM launched at $300 MSRP, while the Pentium G860 debuted at $86.
| Feature | Core i7-620LM | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $86-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $36 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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