Pentium 957 vs Pentium J2850

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 J2850 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 J2850: 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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,015 vs 1,016).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.6 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($134 MSRP vs $94 MSRP).
❌750% higher power demand at 17W vs 2W.

Pentium J2850

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($94 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($94 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 17W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium J2850 better than Pentium 957?

Yes. Pentium J2850 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% 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 J2850 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 41 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium J2850 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Pentium J2850 is the better buy right now. Pentium J2850 comes in $40 cheaper on MSRP at $94 MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 42.7% better value on MSRP (10.8 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), 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 J2850 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 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 J2850 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 J2850

The Pentium J2850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.41 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,016 points. Launch price was $94.

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Processing Power

The Pentium 957 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium J2850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium J2850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium J2850 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Pentium J2850 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 2.41 GHz). The Pentium 957 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium J2850 uses Bay Trail-D (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 957 scores 1,015 against the Pentium J2850's 1,016 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium J2850. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 957 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium J2850.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium J2850
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.2 GHz	2.4 GHz+100%
Base Clock	1.2 GHz	2.41 GHz+101%
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	2 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Bay Trail-D (2013)
PassMark	1,015	1,016

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium 957 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium J2850 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium J2850
Socket	BGA1023	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Pentium 957 was priced at $134, while the Pentium J2850 came in at $94. On launch pricing ($134 vs $94), Pentium J2850 was $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 957 delivers 7.6 pts/$ vs 10.8 pts/$ for the Pentium J2850 — making the Pentium J2850 the 35.2% better value option.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium J2850
MSRP	$134	$94-30%
Performance per Dollar	7.6	10.8+42%
Release Date	2011	2013

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