CPU
GPU
Pentium G6950
Phenom II X3 N850
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 G6950 is positioned at rank 909 and the Phenom II X3 N850 is on rank 539, so the Phenom II X3 N850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6950
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 N850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G6950 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G6950 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 G6950 and Phenom II X3 N850
Pentium G6950
The Pentium G6950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,252 points. Launch price was $60.
Phenom II X3 N850
The Phenom II X3 N850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,253 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Pentium G6950 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 N850 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 N850 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G6950 versus 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N850 — a 24% clock advantage for the Pentium G6950. The Pentium G6950 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N850 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G6950 scores 1,252 against the Phenom II X3 N850's 1,253 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 N850.
| Feature | Pentium G6950 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+27% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1.5 MB+500% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,252 | 1,253 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G6950 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X3 N850 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G6950 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | S1g4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium G6950 and Phenom II X3 N850
