Pentium G860 vs Core 2 Solo SU3500
Pentium G860
Core 2 Solo SU3500
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 G860 is positioned at rank 861 and the Core 2 Solo SU3500 is on rank 1195, so the Pentium G860 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G860
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Solo SU3500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+137%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ 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 G860 and Core 2 Solo SU3500
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.
Core 2 Solo SU3500
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 5.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,468 points. Launch price was $262.
Processing Power
The Pentium G860 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Pentium G860 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 versus 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Solo SU3500 — a 72.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Pentium G860 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G860 scores 1,485 against the Core 2 Solo SU3500's 1,468 — a 1.2% lead for the Pentium G860. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860 vs 3 MB on the Core 2 Solo SU3500.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2+100% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+114% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+131% | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 3 MB+1100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,485+1% | 1,468 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G860 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Pentium G860) / not specified (Core 2 Solo SU3500). The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G860 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core 2 Solo SU3500 debuted at $262. At current prices ($36 vs $15), the Core 2 Solo SU3500 is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G860 delivers 41.3 pts/$ vs 97.9 pts/$ for the Core 2 Solo SU3500 — making the Core 2 Solo SU3500 the 81.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Core 2 Solo SU3500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-67% | $262 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $36 | $15-58% |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.3 | 97.9+137% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2009 |
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