Pentium G860 vs Pentium 987
Pentium G860
Pentium 987
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 Pentium 987 is on rank 1052, 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 Pentium 987
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+80%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($36) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 Pentium 987
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.
Pentium 987
The Pentium 987 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,487 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G860 and Pentium 987 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 versus 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium G860 scores 1,485 against the Pentium 987's 1,487 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium 987. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G860 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+100% | 1.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+100% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,485 | 1,487 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G860 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 987 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1023 |
| 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: VT-x (Pentium G860) / not specified (Pentium 987). The Pentium G860 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Pentium 987 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G860 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pentium 987 debuted at $134. At current prices ($36 vs $20), the Pentium 987 is $16 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G860 delivers 41.3 pts/$ vs 74.3 pts/$ for the Pentium 987 — making the Pentium 987 the 57.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-36% | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $36 | $20-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.3 | 74.3+80% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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