Pentium E2220 vs Pentium B960
Pentium E2220
Pentium B960
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 E2220 is positioned at rank 569 and the Pentium B960 is on rank 1144, so the Pentium E2220 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E2220
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($32) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+111%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($32) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 E2220 and Pentium B960
Pentium E2220
The Pentium E2220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,028 points. Launch price was $69.
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.
Processing Power
The Pentium B960 is built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium E2220 scores 1,028 against the Pentium B960's 1,019 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium E2220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 330 vs 383, a 14.9% lead for the Pentium B960 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 590 vs 679 (14% advantage for the Pentium B960). L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium E2220 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B960.
| Feature | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 1 MB L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | — | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,028 | 1,019 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 330 | 383+16% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 590 | 679+15% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E2220 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium B960 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Pentium E2220 versus DDR3-1333 on the Pentium B960 — the Pentium B960 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium B960 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Pentium E2220) vs 16 (Pentium B960) — the Pentium B960 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: G31,G41 (Pentium E2220) and HM76 (Pentium B960).
| Feature | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1333+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Pentium E2220 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization: None (Pentium E2220) / not specified (Pentium B960). The Pentium B960 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Pentium E2220 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium E2220 targets Legacy Desktop, Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.
| Feature | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E2220 launched at $32 MSRP, while the Pentium B960 debuted at $134. At current prices ($32 vs $15), the Pentium B960 is $17 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E2220 delivers 32.1 pts/$ vs 67.9 pts/$ for the Pentium B960 — making the Pentium B960 the 71.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E2220 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $32-76% | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $32 | $15-53% |
| Performance per Dollar | 32.1 | 67.9+112% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2011 |
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