CPU
GPU
Pentium D 960
Core i3-3229Y
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 960 is positioned at rank 1104 and the Core i3-3229Y is on rank 437, so the Core i3-3229Y 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 960
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3229Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium D 960 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium D 960 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| 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 D 960 and Core i3-3229Y
Pentium D 960
The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.
Core i3-3229Y
The Core i3-3229Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,014 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Pentium D 960 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3229Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 versus 1.4 GHz on the Core i3-3229Y — a 88% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Pentium D 960 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-3229Y uses Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 960 scores 1,005 against the Core i3-3229Y's 1,014 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-3229Y. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium D 960 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3229Y.
| Feature | Pentium D 960 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+157% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+157% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) |
| PassMark | 1,005 | 1,014 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium D 960 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-3229Y uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium D 960 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium D 960) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3229Y). The Core i3-3229Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium D 960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3229Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3229Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050GE.
| Feature | Pentium D 960 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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