Pentium J2900 vs Z-60

Pentium J2900 vs Z-60 Performance Spectrum

Pentium J2900

4 / 4

1,254

+0.4%

1,249

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Pentium J2900 vs Z-60 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 J2900 vs Z-60: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium J2900

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 5W, a 3W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $94 MSRP, while Z-60 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Z-60 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Z-60

2012

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Pentium J2900 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,249 vs 1,254).
❌150% higher power demand at 5W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium J2900 better than Z-60?

Yes. Pentium J2900 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% 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 J2900 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium J2900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Pentium J2900 is the better buy right now. Pentium J2900 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $94 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium J2900 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium J2900 vs Z-60 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium J2900

The Pentium J2900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.41 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,254 points. Launch price was $94.

Z-60

The Z-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Hondo (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,249 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Pentium J2900 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Z-60 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium J2900 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Pentium J2900 versus 1 GHz on the Z-60 — a 90.7% clock advantage for the Pentium J2900. The Pentium J2900 uses the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Z-60 uses Hondo (2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium J2900 scores 1,254 against the Z-60's 1,249 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium J2900. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium J2900 vs 0 kB on the Z-60.

Feature	Pentium J2900	Z-60
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.66 GHz+166%	1 GHz
Base Clock	2.41 GHz	—
L3 Cache	2 MB L2 Cache	0 kB
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB
Process	22 nm-45%	40 nm
Architecture	Bay Trail-D (2013)	Hondo (2012)
PassMark	1,254	1,249
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	658

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium J2900 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Z-60 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium J2900	Z-60
Socket	FCBGA1170	FT1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1066
RAM Channels	—	1
ECC Support	—	No

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Pentium J2900) / AMD-V (Z-60). The Z-60 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Pentium J2900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Z-60 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: Z-60 rivals Core i3-2310M.