
Pentium D 950 vs Celeron T3100

Pentium D 950

Celeron T3100
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 D 950 is positioned at rank 1110 and the Celeron T3100 is on rank 970, so the Celeron T3100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 950
Performance Per Dollar Celeron T3100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($62) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+513%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($62) |
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 D 950 and Celeron T3100

Pentium D 950
The Pentium D 950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 January 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 935 points. Launch price was $637.

Celeron T3100
The Celeron T3100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 945 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium D 950 is built on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium D 950 scores 935 against the Celeron T3100's 945 — a 1.1% lead for the Celeron T3100. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium D 950 vs 1 MB L2 Cache on the Celeron T3100.
| Feature | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | — |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+79% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 1 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | — |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | — |
| PassMark | 935 | 945+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium D 950 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron T3100 uses PGA478 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium D 950) / None (Celeron T3100). Primary use case: Celeron T3100 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | None |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium D 950 launched at $637 MSRP, while the Celeron T3100 debuted at $62. At current prices ($10 vs $62), the Pentium D 950 is $52 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium D 950 delivers 93.5 pts/$ vs 15.2 pts/$ for the Celeron T3100 — making the Pentium D 950 the 143.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium D 950 | Celeron T3100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $637 | $62-90% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-84% | $62 |
| Performance per Dollar | 93.5+515% | 15.2 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2008 |
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