Pentium B960 vs Pentium B950
Pentium B960
Pentium B950
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 Pentium B950 is on rank 1142, so the Pentium B950 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 Pentium B950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+133%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 Pentium B950
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.
Pentium B950
The Pentium B950 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 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: 1,022 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium B960 and Pentium B950 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 versus 2.1 GHz on the Pentium B950 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Pentium B960 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium B960 scores 1,019 against the Pentium B950's 1,022 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium B950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 383 vs 379, a 1% lead for the Pentium B960 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 679 vs 671 (1.2% advantage for the Pentium B960). Both processors carry 2 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+5% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+5% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,019 | 1,022 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 383+1% | 379 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 679+1% | 671 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the PGA988 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM76 (Pentium B960) and HM65,HM67 (Pentium B950).
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization: not specified (Pentium B960) / VT-x (Pentium B950). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Pentium B960) and Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Pentium B950) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium B960 targets Budget, Pentium B950 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Pentium B960 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Pentium B950 debuted at $134. At current prices ($15 vs $35), the Pentium B960 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium B960 delivers 67.9 pts/$ vs 29.2 pts/$ for the Pentium B950 — making the Pentium B960 the 79.8% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium B960 | Pentium B950 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-57% | $35 |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.9+133% | 29.2 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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