
Pentium E6500

Pentium A1020
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 E6500 is positioned at rank 921 and the Pentium A1020 is on rank 1009, so the Pentium E6500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6500
Performance Per Dollar Pentium A1020
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Pentium A1020 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($86) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Pentium A1020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+766%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($86) |
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 E6500 and Pentium A1020

Pentium E6500
The Pentium E6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,175 points. Launch price was $50.

Pentium A1020
The Pentium A1020 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.41 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,167 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium E6500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium A1020 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium A1020 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Pentium E6500 versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium A1020 — a 97.5% clock advantage for the Pentium A1020 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 2.41 GHz). The Pentium E6500 is built on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium E6500 scores 1,175 against the Pentium A1020's 1,167 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium E6500. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E6500 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium A1020.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium A1020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz | 2.7 GHz+190% |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz+22% | 2.41 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | — |
| PassMark | 1,175 | 1,167 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E6500 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium A1020 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium A1020 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E6500 launched at $84 MSRP, while the Pentium A1020 debuted at $86. At current prices ($10 vs $86), the Pentium E6500 is $76 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E6500 delivers 117.5 pts/$ vs 13.6 pts/$ for the Pentium A1020 — making the Pentium E6500 the 158.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium A1020 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $84-2% | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-88% | $86 |
| Performance per Dollar | 117.5+764% | 13.6 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2016 |
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