Pentium 967 vs Core i3-550
Pentium 967
Core i3-550
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 i3-550 is on rank 965, so the Core i3-550 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 i3-550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 967 and Core i3-550
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 i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Processing Power
The Pentium 967 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-550's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Pentium 967 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 — a 84.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium 967 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-550 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 967 scores 1,640 against the Core i3-550's 1,632 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium 967. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 967 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+146% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+146% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,640 | 1,632 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,320 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 437 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 899 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 967 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-550 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 967) / Yes (Core i3-550). The Core i3-550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium 967 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 967 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Core i3-550 debuted at $138. At current prices ($10 vs $5), the Core i3-550 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 967 delivers 164.0 pts/$ vs 326.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-550 — making the Core i3-550 the 66.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 967 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-3% | $138 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $5-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 164.0 | 326.4+99% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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