Pentium 957 vs Pentium B960

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.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium B960 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium B960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium 957

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,015 vs 1,019).
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium B960 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium B960

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Pentium 957 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium B960 better than Pentium 957?

Yes. Pentium B960 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 0.4% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium B960 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 83.3% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium B960 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium B960 is the better buy right now. Pentium B960 comes in in basically the same MSRP band at $134 MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% higher PassMark. It is also 0.4% better value on MSRP (7.6 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium B960 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium B960 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Pentium B960

The Pentium B960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,019 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the Pentium 957 and Pentium B960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 — a 58.8% clock advantage for the Pentium B960 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium 957 scores 1,015 against the Pentium B960's 1,019 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium B960. Both processors carry 2 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium B960
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.2 GHz	2.2 GHz+83%
Base Clock	1.2 GHz	2.2 GHz+83%
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,015	1,019
Geekbench 6 Single	—	383
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	679

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium 957 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium B960 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium B960
Socket	BGA1023	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	—	16 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

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Advanced Features

The Pentium B960 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Pentium 957 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium B960
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Target Use	—	Budget

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Pentium 957 was priced at $134, while the Pentium B960 came in at $134. On launch pricing ($134 vs $134), Pentium B960 was $0 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 957 delivers 7.6 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Pentium B960 — making the Pentium B960 the 0.4% better value option.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium B960
MSRP	$134	$134
Performance per Dollar	7.6	7.6
Release Date	2011	2011

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