Pentium G860 vs Pentium G850
Pentium G860
Pentium G850
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 G850 is on rank 857, 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 G860
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($36) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+107%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($36) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) |
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 G850
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 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.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G860 and Pentium G850 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium G860 versus 2.9 GHz on the Pentium G850 — a 3.4% clock advantage for the Pentium G860 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.9 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 G850's 1,491 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium G850. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+3% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+3% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,485 | 1,491 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1155 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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: VT-x (Pentium G860) / not specified (Pentium G850). 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 G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 G850 debuted at $86. At current prices ($36 vs $75), the Pentium G860 is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G860 delivers 41.3 pts/$ vs 19.9 pts/$ for the Pentium G850 — making the Pentium G860 the 69.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G860 | Pentium G850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $36-52% | $75 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.3+108% | 19.9 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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