Pentium B960 vs Atom C3338
Pentium B960
Atom C3338
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 B960 is positioned at rank 1144 and the Atom C3338 is on rank 543, so the Atom C3338 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B960
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3338
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium B960 | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium B960 | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium B960 and Atom C3338
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.
Atom C3338
The Atom C3338 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 February 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,028 points. Launch price was $27.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium B960 and Atom C3338 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 versus 2.2 GHz on the Atom C3338 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Pentium B960 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom C3338 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium B960 scores 1,019 against the Atom C3338's 1,028 — a 0.9% lead for the Atom C3338. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B960 vs 4 MB on the Atom C3338.
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+47% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 4 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 1,019 | 1,028 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 383 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 679 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium B960 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom C3338 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Pentium B960 versus DDR4-1866 on the Atom C3338 — the Atom C3338 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3338 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Pentium B960) vs 1 (Atom C3338). PCIe lanes: 16 (Pentium B960) vs 10 (Atom C3338) — the Pentium B960 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM76 (Pentium B960) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3338).
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 128 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+60% | 10 |
Advanced Features
The Pentium B960 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Atom C3338 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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