Pentium III 1200 vs Pentium III 1266S
Pentium III 1200
Pentium III 1266S
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 III 1200 is positioned at rank 1126 and the Pentium III 1266S is on rank 1140, so the Pentium III 1200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium III 1200
Performance Per Dollar Pentium III 1266S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+86%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 III 1200 and Pentium III 1266S
Pentium III 1200
The Pentium III 1200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 195 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium III 1266S
The Pentium III 1266S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.27 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 210 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium III 1200 and Pentium III 1266S share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium III 1200 versus 1.27 GHz on the Pentium III 1266S — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Pentium III 1266S. Both are built on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture using a 130 nm process. In PassMark, the Pentium III 1200 scores 195 against the Pentium III 1266S's 210 — a 7.4% lead for the Pentium III 1266S. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.27 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Tualatin (2000−2002) | Tualatin (2000−2002) |
| PassMark | 195 | 210+8% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the PGA370 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA370 | PGA370 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | SDR-133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 512 MB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: None (Pentium III 1200) / not specified (Pentium III 1266S). Primary use case: Pentium III 1200 targets Legacy.
| Feature | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | None | — |
| Target Use | Legacy | — |
Value Analysis
The Pentium III 1200 launched at $200 MSRP, while the Pentium III 1266S debuted at $369. At current prices ($10 vs $20), the Pentium III 1200 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium III 1200 delivers 19.5 pts/$ vs 10.5 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1266S — making the Pentium III 1200 the 60% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium III 1200 | Pentium III 1266S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200-46% | $369 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-50% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 19.5+86% | 10.5 |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2001 |
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