Pentium G850 vs Pentium G860
Pentium G850
Pentium G860
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 G850 is positioned at rank 857 and the Pentium G860 is on rank 861, so the Pentium G850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G850
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) | ✅ More affordable ($36) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+107%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) | ✅ More affordable ($36) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium G850 and Pentium G860
Pentium G850
The Pentium G850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,491 points. Launch price was $27.
Pentium G860
The Pentium G860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,485 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G850 and Pentium G860 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Pentium G850 versus 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 — a 3.4% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium G850 scores 1,491 against the Pentium G860's 1,485 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium G850. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,491 | 1,485 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1155 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | 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 G850) / VT-x (Pentium G860). The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Pentium G850 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G850 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Pentium G860 debuted at $86. At current prices ($75 vs $36), the Pentium G860 is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G850 delivers 19.9 pts/$ vs 41.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G860 — making the Pentium G860 the 69.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G850 | Pentium G860 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75 | $36-52% |
| Performance per Dollar | 19.9 | 41.3+108% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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