CPU
GPU
Phenom II X3 N850
Pentium G6950
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 Phenom II X3 N850 is positioned at rank 539 and the Pentium G6950 is on rank 909, so the Phenom II X3 N850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 N850
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G6950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N850 | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N850 | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 Phenom II X3 N850 and Pentium G6950
Phenom II X3 N850
The Phenom II X3 N850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,253 points. Launch price was $149.
Pentium G6950
The Pentium G6950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,252 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N850 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G6950 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 N850 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N850 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G6950 — a 24% clock advantage for the Pentium G6950. The Phenom II X3 N850 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G6950 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N850 scores 1,253 against the Pentium G6950's 1,252 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 N850.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N850 | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,253 | 1,252 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 N850 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G6950 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N850 | Pentium G6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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