Pentium III 1200 vs Pentium III 1266S

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.

Pentium III 1200 vs Pentium III 1266S FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium III 1200 vs Pentium III 1266S: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium III 1200

2001

Why buy it

✅Costs $169 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $369 MSRP).
✅Delivers 71.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 1.0 vs 0.6 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $369 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (195 vs 210).

Pentium III 1266S

2001

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 0.6 vs 1.0 PassMark/$ ($369 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium III 1266S better than Pentium III 1200?

Yes. Pentium III 1266S is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 7.7% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium III 1266S has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 5.8% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium III 1266S is the stronger fit. You are getting 7.7% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium III 1266S is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium III 1266S comes in 84.5% more expensive on MSRP at $369 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it still gives you 7.7% higher PassMark. Pentium III 1200 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2001 platform. Even with 71.3% better value on paper (1.0 vs 0.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA370.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium III 1266S makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 1 cores / 1 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium III 1200 vs Pentium III 1266S Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

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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%

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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	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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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	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Pentium III 1200 was priced at $200, while the Pentium III 1266S came in at $369. On launch pricing ($200 vs $369), Pentium III 1200 was $169 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium III 1200 delivers 1.0 pts/$ vs 0.6 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1266S — making the Pentium III 1200 the 52.6% better value option.

Feature	Pentium III 1200	Pentium III 1266S
MSRP	$200-46%	$369
Performance per Dollar	1.0+67%	0.6
Release Date	2001	2001

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