Intel Pentium G6950
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
Integrated GPUAt a Glance
IntelIntel Pentium G6950 Specifications
Pentium G6950 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Pentium G6950 features 2 physical cores and 2 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
Pentium G6950 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Pentium G6950 benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Pentium G6950 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Pentium G6950 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the Pentium G6950 processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Pentium G6950's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Westmere Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Pentium G6950 is built on Intel's 32 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in Pentium G6950 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Westmere Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Pentium G6950 by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
Pentium G6950 Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Pentium G6950 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 73W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel Socket 1156 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Pentium G6950 uses the Intel Socket 1156 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel Socket 1156 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the Pentium G6950 define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Pentium G6950 determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Intel's Pentium G6950 Integrated Graphics
Built-in GPU specifications
The Intel Pentium G6950 includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in basic computing scenarios. Integrated graphics are ideal for office productivity, video playback, and light gaming. While not designed for demanding GPU benchmarks, the iGPU in the Pentium G6950 provides hardware video encoding and decoding capabilities. This makes the processor suitable for compact builds, HTPCs, and systems where power efficiency is prioritized over gaming performance.
Pentium G6950 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Pentium G6950 is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Pentium G6950 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
Pentium G6950 Benchmark Scores
cinebench_cinebench_r15_multicoreSource
Cinebench R15 multi-core renders a complex 3D scene using all CPU threads simultaneously. This test reveals how Intel Pentium G6950 performs in parallel rendering workloads like video production and 3D animation. The R15 version remains useful for comparing against older hardware benchmarks. Higher scores directly correlate with faster render times in Cinema 4D and similar 3D applications.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerscinebench_cinebench_r20_multicoreSource
Cinebench R20 multi-core uses a scene requiring 4x more computational power than R15. This test better reflects modern CPU capabilities for professional rendering on Intel Pentium G6950. The more demanding workload provides better differentiation between current-generation processors.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r20_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R20 single-core tests one thread against a more demanding scene than R15. This reveals the true single-thread rendering capability of Intel Pentium G6950. The increased complexity provides more accurate performance differentiation between modern CPUs.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_multicoreSource
Cinebench R23 multi-core is the current standard for CPU rendering benchmarks with a 10-minute minimum runtime. This extended test reveals sustained performance of Intel Pentium G6950 after thermal limits kick in. The longer duration exposes cooling limitations that shorter benchmarks miss.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R23 single-core measures sustained single-thread performance over 10 minutes. This reveals how Intel Pentium G6950 maintains boost clocks under continuous load. The extended runtime shows whether thermal throttling affects single-core performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About Intel Pentium G6950
The Intel Pentium G6950 is a Clarkdale-generation desktop part built by Intel on a 32nm process. It was released on 2010-01-06 and is now end-of-life. The chip has two cores and two threads with a fixed base clock of 2.80 GHz, no boost clock, and a 73W TDP. Its average benchmark score is 366, which places it at the 4th percentile among all CPUs in the database.
Benchmark Performance
Benchmark results show a processor at the very low end of the performance distribution. In Cinebench R23, the G6950 scores 1064 in the multi-core test and 150 in the single-core test. The Cinebench R20 suite reports a multi-core score of 446 and a single-core score of 63. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core result is 107. These are small absolute scores, and the 4th percentile ranking confirms that most CPUs in the database produce higher average results.
The composite average score of 366 is nearly identical to its closest listed rivals. The Intel Celeron G550 has an average score of 367 with a delta of -0.2%, meaning the two are effectively tied. The AMD Phenom II X2 B57 has an average score of 368 with a delta of -0.6%, so it is slightly ahead in the database. The Intel Celeron 2955U scores 364 with a +0.7% delta, placing it just behind the G6950. The Intel Celeron 2950M scores 362 with a +1.2% delta, making it the slowest member of this immediate comparison group. The entire cluster is tightly grouped; the largest delta in the nearestRivals list is only 1.2%. Differences of this size are unlikely to produce a meaningful gap in everyday usage.
The lack of a boost clock is also visible in the data. The base clock is listed as 2.80 GHz and no boost clock is provided, so the processor has no automatic frequency increase for lightly threaded workloads. The benchmark scores, therefore, represent a fixed performance ceiling rather than a boost-dependent result.
How It Compares
Intel Celeron G550: The G550 scores 367 against the G6950’s 366, with a delta of -0.2%. These two CPUs are functionally at parity in the benchmark database. Neither part establishes a clear performance advantage over the other.
AMD Phenom II X2 B57: The Phenom II X2 B57 has the highest average among the four nearest rivals at 368, with a delta of -0.6%. The G6950 sits close enough that the data places them in the same performance class despite coming from different manufacturers.
Intel Celeron 2955U: The Celeron 2955U scores 364, and the G6950 is 0.7% ahead of it. Although the 2955U is a mobile-oriented part and the G6950 is a desktop part, their average benchmark results are almost indistinguishable.
Intel Celeron 2950M: The Celeron 2950M scores 362, the lowest average in the nearestRivals group. The G6950 holds a 1.2% lead here, which is the largest advantage recorded for this processor against any listed rival. Still, a 1.2% gap is small enough that both chips occupy the same general performance tier.
Power and Thermals
The TDP is listed at 73W. For a dual-core desktop processor with a fixed 2.80 GHz clock and no boost behavior, this TDP points to a modest thermal envelope. The cooling solution does not need to absorb heat from many high-frequency cores, and the 32nm process helps keep the thermal load manageable. A conventional desktop cooler is the implied tier; there is nothing in the power data to suggest an exotic or high-end cooling requirement. The integrated Intel HD graphics contribute to the platform, but the fact pack does not split graphics power from CPU power, so the 73W TDP remains the primary thermal guideline.
FAQ
Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Pentium G6950?
A: The average benchmark score is 366, placing the processor at the 4th percentile among all CPUs in the database.
Q: Does the G6950 support ECC memory?
A: No, ECC memory is not supported.
Q: What memory configuration does it use?
A: It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s.
Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?
A: No, the multiplier is locked, so the processor does not offer unlocked frequency scaling.
Q: What is the production status of the G6950?
A: The production status is end-of-life. It was released on 2010-01-06.
Q: What PCIe capability does the CPU provide?
A: It provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU only.
Who Should Consider It
The benchmark data suggests the G6950 is best suited to light, legacy, or single-threaded desktop use. For office-style productivity, the two cores at 2.80 GHz can handle basic tasks, and the integrated Intel HD graphics provide a display output without requiring a discrete GPU. The 4th percentile ranking and the R23 multi-core score of 1064 make it a poor fit for demanding creation workloads such as modern video rendering or large compilation tasks. Gaming is similarly constrained: the R23 single-core score of 150 leaves little headroom for modern titles that assume more than two threads. Users who only need a simple desktop machine for document work, spreadsheets, or legacy software could find the platform workable, but anyone expecting responsive modern multitasking should look elsewhere. The data does not show enough performance for content creation beyond very light tasks.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is clear in the Cinebench results. In R20, the single-core score is 63 and the multi-core score is 446. In R23, the single-core score is 150 and the multi-core score is 1064. The multi-core scores are larger because the processor has a second core, but both the single- and multi-core absolute values remain low. Since the chip has exactly two cores and two threads, it can only execute two threads at a time; workloads with more than two simultaneous threads cannot scale beyond that limit. The single-thread score matters more for everyday interactive behavior, because many common operations depend heavily on one thread and there is no boost clock to give that thread a temporary frequency advantage. The data implies that exactly two well-balanced threads is the best-case workload shape for this CPU.
Platform and Compatibility
The G6950 uses Intel Socket 1156 and belongs to the Westmere architectural family with the codename Clarkdale. It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a listed bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s, and ECC memory is not supported. The processor provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, plus integrated Intel HD graphics. The multiplier is locked, and the part number is SLBTGSLBMS. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The 32nm die contains 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die. The launch MSRP was $87. As an end-of-life desktop part released on 2010-01-06, the platform is not forward-looking; any compatible upgrade would need to be another Socket 1156 processor, although the fact pack does not list specific compatible models.
The AMD Equivalent of Pentium G6950
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