
Pentium J4205 vs Core i7-860S

Pentium J4205

Core i7-860S
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 J4205 is positioned at rank 910 and the Core i7-860S is on rank 1033, so the Pentium J4205 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium J4205
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) | ✅ More affordable ($96) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+68%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) | ✅ More affordable ($96) |
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 J4205 and Core i7-860S

Pentium J4205
The Pentium J4205 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,315 points. Launch price was $161.

Core i7-860S
The Core i7-860S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,324 points. Launch price was $422.
Processing Power
The Pentium J4205 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-860S's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Pentium J4205 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860S — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-860S (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Pentium J4205 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-860S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium J4205 scores 2,315 against the Core i7-860S's 2,324 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-860S. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium J4205 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860S.
| Feature | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.46 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.53 GHz+69% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,315 | 2,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 451 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,332 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium J4205 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-860S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1296 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium J4205) / Yes (Core i7-860S).
| Feature | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Pentium J4205 launched at $161 MSRP, while the Core i7-860S debuted at $299. At current prices ($161 vs $96), the Core i7-860S is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium J4205 delivers 14.4 pts/$ vs 24.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-860S — making the Core i7-860S the 50.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium J4205 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $161-46% | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $161 | $96-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.4 | 24.2+68% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2010 |
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