Pentium III 1266S vs Pentium 4 1.80
Pentium III 1266S
Pentium 4 1.80
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 1266S is positioned at rank 1140 and the Pentium 4 1.80 is on rank 1141, so the Pentium III 1266S 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 1266S
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 4 1.80
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium III 1266S | Pentium 4 1.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 180 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium III 1266S | Pentium 4 1.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+87%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 1266S and Pentium 4 1.80
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.
Pentium 4 1.80
The Pentium 4 1.80 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 67 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 225 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium III 1266S and Pentium 4 1.80 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.27 GHz on the Pentium III 1266S versus 1.8 GHz on the Pentium 4 1.80 — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 1.80. The Pentium III 1266S uses the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium 4 1.80 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (180 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium III 1266S scores 210 against the Pentium 4 1.80's 225 — a 6.9% lead for the Pentium 4 1.80. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium III 1266S | Pentium 4 1.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.27 GHz | 1.8 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB |
| Process | 130 nm-28% | 180 nm |
| Architecture | Tualatin (2000−2002) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 210 | 225+7% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium III 1266S uses the PGA370 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 4 1.80 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium III 1266S | Pentium 4 1.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA370 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium III 1266S launched at $369 MSRP, while the Pentium 4 1.80 debuted at $562. At current prices ($20 vs $40), the Pentium III 1266S is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium III 1266S delivers 10.5 pts/$ vs 5.6 pts/$ for the Pentium 4 1.80 — making the Pentium III 1266S the 60.5% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium III 1266S | Pentium 4 1.80 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $369-34% | $562 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-50% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.5+88% | 5.6 |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2001 |
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