Pentium 987 vs Pentium G860
Pentium 987
Pentium G860
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 987 is positioned at rank 1052 and the Pentium G860 is on rank 861, so the Pentium G860 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 987
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+80%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) |
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 987 and Pentium G860
Pentium 987
The Pentium 987 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 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: 1,487 points. Launch price was $134.
Pentium G860
The Pentium G860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,485 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 987 and Pentium G860 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 versus 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium 987 scores 1,487 against the Pentium G860's 1,485 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium 987. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3 GHz+100% |
| 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 | 1,487 | 1,485 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 987 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G860 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 987) / VT-x (Pentium G860). The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Pentium 987 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 987 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Pentium G860 debuted at $86. At current prices ($20 vs $36), the Pentium 987 is $16 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 987 delivers 74.3 pts/$ vs 41.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G860 — making the Pentium 987 the 57.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | $86-36% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-44% | $36 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.3+80% | 41.3 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2011 |
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