
Core i7-620UM vs Pentium Extreme Edition 955

Core i7-620UM

Pentium Extreme Edition 955
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 i7-620UM is positioned at rank 1228 and the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 is on rank 1123, so the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-620UM
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Extreme Edition 955
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($278) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Presler (2005−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+458%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($278) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 i7-620UM and Pentium Extreme Edition 955

Core i7-620UM
The Core i7-620UM 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 1.06 GHz, with boost up to 2.13 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,091 points. Launch price was $278.

Pentium Extreme Edition 955
The Pentium Extreme Edition 955 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 December 2005 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.466 GHz, with boost up to 0.47 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: 1,095 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-620UM and Pentium Extreme Edition 955 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.13 GHz on the Core i7-620UM versus 0.47 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 — a 127.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-620UM (base: 1.06 GHz vs 3.466 GHz). The Core i7-620UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-620UM scores 1,091 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 955's 1,095 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium Extreme Edition 955.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.13 GHz+353% | 0.47 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.06 GHz | 3.466 GHz+227% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Presler (2005−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,091 | 1,095 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-620UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | 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 (Core i7-620UM) / not specified (Pentium Extreme Edition 955). The Core i7-620UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620UM targets Ultra-Portable Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-620UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Ultra-Portable Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-620UM launched at $278 MSRP, while the Pentium Extreme Edition 955 debuted at $999.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Pentium Extreme Edition 955 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $278-72% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $50 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2005 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















