CPU
GPU
Pentium G6960
Celeron G555
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 G6960 is positioned at rank 881 and the Celeron G555 is on rank 634, so the Celeron G555 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6960
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G555
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 G6960 and Celeron G555
Pentium G6960
The Pentium G6960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (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: 1,433 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron G555
The Celeron G555 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,427 points. Launch price was $89.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G6960 and Celeron G555 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Pentium G6960 versus 2.7 GHz on the Celeron G555 — a 97.5% clock advantage for the Celeron G555 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Pentium G6960 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G555 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G6960 scores 1,433 against the Celeron G555's 1,427 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium G6960. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total) on the Pentium G6960 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G555.
| Feature | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz | 2.7 GHz+190% |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz+9% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3072 kB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,433 | 1,427 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 398 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 742 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G6960 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G555 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G6960) / VT-x (Celeron G555). The Celeron G555 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Pentium G6960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G555 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G555 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G6960 launched at $89 MSRP, while the Celeron G555 debuted at $52. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Celeron G555 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G6960 delivers 95.5 pts/$ vs 95.1 pts/$ for the Celeron G555 — making the Pentium G6960 the 0.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G6960 | Celeron G555 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $89 | $52-42% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 95.5 | 95.1 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2012 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium G6960 and Celeron G555
