
Pentium 957 vs Celeron T3300

Pentium 957

Celeron T3300
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 957 is positioned at rank 1146 and the Celeron T3300 is on rank 1038, so the Celeron T3300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 957
Performance Per Dollar Celeron T3300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 957 | Celeron T3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 957 | Celeron T3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 957 and Celeron T3300

Pentium 957
The Pentium 957 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,015 points. Launch price was $134.

Celeron T3300
The Celeron T3300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium 957 is built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium 957 scores 1,015 against the Celeron T3300's 1,005 — a 1% lead for the Pentium 957. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 957 vs 1 MB on the Celeron T3300.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Celeron T3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | — |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% | 1 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 1,015 | 1,005 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 957 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron T3300 uses PGA478 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Celeron T3300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 957 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Celeron T3300 debuted at $86. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Pentium 957 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 957 delivers 101.5 pts/$ vs 67.0 pts/$ for the Celeron T3300 — making the Pentium 957 the 40.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Celeron T3300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | $86-36% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 101.5+51% | 67.0 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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