
Pentium 967 vs Core i3-2357M

Pentium 967

Core i3-2357M
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 967 is positioned at rank 1031 and the Core i3-2357M is on rank 96, so the Core i3-2357M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 967
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2357M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 967 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 967 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium 967 and Core i3-2357M

Pentium 967
The Pentium 967 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 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 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: 1,640 points. Launch price was $134.

Core i3-2357M
The Core i3-2357M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,645 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Pentium 967 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2357M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Pentium 967 versus 1.3 GHz on the Core i3-2357M — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.3 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium 967 scores 1,640 against the Core i3-2357M's 1,645 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-2357M. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 967 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2357M.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.3 GHz | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,640 | 1,645 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 440 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 440 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the BGA1023 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 967) / true (Core i3-2357M). The Core i3-2357M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Pentium 967 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i3-2357M rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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