Pentium 4 1.80 vs Pentium III 1266S
Pentium 4 1.80
Pentium III 1266S
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 Pentium 4 1.80 is positioned at rank 1141 and the Pentium III 1266S is on rank 1140, so the Pentium III 1266S offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 4 1.80
Performance Per Dollar Pentium III 1266S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 4 1.80 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 180 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 4 1.80 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+87%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 Pentium 4 1.80 and Pentium III 1266S
Pentium 4 1.80
The Pentium 4 1.80 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 67 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 225 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium III 1266S
The Pentium III 1266S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.27 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 210 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 4 1.80 and Pentium III 1266S share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Pentium 4 1.80 versus 1.27 GHz on the Pentium III 1266S — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 1.80. The Pentium 4 1.80 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (180 nm), while the Pentium III 1266S uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 4 1.80 scores 225 against the Pentium III 1266S's 210 — a 6.9% lead for the Pentium 4 1.80. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium 4 1.80 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz+42% | 1.27 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 180 nm | 130 nm-28% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Tualatin (2000−2002) |
| PassMark | 225+7% | 210 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 4 1.80 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium III 1266S uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 4 1.80 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PGA370 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 4 1.80 launched at $562 MSRP, while the Pentium III 1266S debuted at $369. At current prices ($40 vs $20), the Pentium III 1266S is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 4 1.80 delivers 5.6 pts/$ vs 10.5 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1266S — making the Pentium III 1266S the 60.5% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 4 1.80 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $562 | $369-34% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $20-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.6 | 10.5+88% |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2001 |
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