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Intel Pentium G3460

Intel Pentium G3460: A Comprehensive Review of the Budget Processor for 2025

Haswell Architecture, 2 Cores, Integrated Graphics — Is it Worth Buying in 2025?

Key Characteristics

Architecture and Process Technology

The Pentium G3460, released in 2014, is based on the Haswell microarchitecture (4th generation Intel Core). It is manufactured using a 22nm process, which is considered outdated by 2025 (modern chips use 7–10nm). Key features include:

- 2 Cores/2 Threads — the lack of Hyper-Threading limits multitasking abilities.

- Base Clock Speed — 3.5 GHz, Turbo Boost is not supported.

- L3 Cache — 3 MB — a modest amount for data caching.

- TDP — 53 W — low power consumption, suitable for passive cooling.

- Integrated Graphics — Intel HD (GT1), 10 execution units, supports DirectX 11.1.

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 benchmarks (2025):

- Single-Core — 613 points — acceptable for basic tasks.

- Multi-Core — 1044 points — weak performance even for office scenarios.

Key Features

- Low price (new units start at $50, if available in stock).

- Support for AVX2 instructions, relevant for some applications.

- Integrated DDR3 memory controller.

Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses LGA 1150, which restricts the choice of motherboards to older models:

- Chipsets: H81 (budget), B85 (business), H87/Z87 (premium).

- Recommended Boards:

- ASUS H81M-K (around $60–70 in 2025, if new units are available).

- Gigabyte GA-B85M-D3H (supports RAID and more SATA ports).

Selection Features

- PCIe 3.0 x16 — suitable for entry-level discrete GPUs (e.g., NVIDIA GT 1030).

- No M.2 — a PCIe adapter will be needed for NVMe drives.

- USB 3.0 — present on most boards, but USB-C is not available.

Supported Memory

Types and Configurations

- DDR3-1333/1600 MHz — maximum 32 GB (2 slots).

- DDR3L — compatible with low-voltage memory (1.35 V).

- DDR4/DDR5 not supported — this is the main limitation for upgrades.

Recommendations

- The optimal option is 8 GB (2x4 GB) DDR3-1600. The cost of the kit is from $30.

- For reduced latency, choose memory with timings CL9–CL11.

Power Supply Recommendations

Power Calculation

With a TDP of 53 W and integrated graphics, the system consumes ~100–120 W under load (without a discrete GPU).

- Without GPU: A 300 W power supply (e.g., be quiet! System Power 10).

- With GPU (NVIDIA GTX 1650): A 450 W power supply (Corsair CV450).

Tips

- Don’t skimp on the power supply — older chipsets are sensitive to voltage fluctuations.

- Compact SFX form factor power supplies are suitable for passive systems.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

- Price — one of the cheapest processors on the market.

- Energy Efficiency — ideal for HTPCs or office PCs.

- Easy Integration — does not require powerful cooling.

Disadvantages

- Outdated Architecture — 40–50% IPC lag behind Ryzen 3 5300G.

- No DDR4/PCIe 4.0 support — limits upgradeability.

- Weak multi-threading potential — slows down when running multiple applications simultaneously.

Use Scenarios

1. Office Tasks

- Document editing, web browsing (up to 10 tabs), Zoom.

- Example: A system based on the G3460, 8 GB DDR3, 240 GB SSD — running Windows 11 (with limitations) or Linux.

2. Multimedia

- Playing 1080p videos via VLC or Kodi.

- Limitation: 4K videos may stutter due to weak graphics performance.

3. Gaming

- Older titles (Half-Life 2, CS:GO on low settings — 40–60 FPS).

- Cloud gaming (GeForce NOW) — an alternative to local rendering.

4. Server Tasks

- NAS based on OpenMediaVault — thanks to the low TDP.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Athlon 3000G (2021)

- Pros: 2 cores/4 threads, Vega 3 (graphics is about 30% better).

- Cons: Discontinued, second-hand price — $70–80.

2. Intel Celeron G5920 (2020)

- Pros: Supports DDR4, 2 cores/2 threads, price — $60.

- Cons: Weaker in single-threaded tests (Geekbench 6 — ~580).

Conclusion: The G3460 lags behind even budget modern CPUs, but benefits from its price.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Look for models with HDMI and USB 3.0 (ASRock H81M-HDS).

2. Storage: Ensure an SSD (Kingston A400 240 GB — $25).

3. Cooling: A cooler with a TDP of 65 W will suffice (Deepcool GAMMAXX 200T).

4. Case: A compact Mini-ITX case (Fractal Design Core 500).

Example Build for $250 (without GPU):

- CPU: G3460 ($50)

- Motherboard: ASUS H81M-K ($70)

- Memory: 8 GB DDR3-1600 ($30)

- SSD: 240 GB ($25)

- Power Supply: 300 W ($40)

- Case: $35

Final Verdict: Who is the Pentium G3460 For?

This processor is suitable for:

1. Budget Build Enthusiasts — if you need a PC for basic tasks.

2. Owners of Old Systems — upgrade without changing the motherboard.

3. Fans of Quiet HTPCs — a media center for the bedroom.

Why consider the G3460 in 2025? Only if your budget is limited to $100 and your tasks are simple. In all other cases, it is better to look at a used Intel Core i3-10100 or a new AMD Ryzen 3 5300U.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

July 2014

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

G3460

Code Name

Haswell

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

3 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1150

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

53 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

Up to 3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3-1333/1600 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics for 4th Generation Intel® Processors

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

1.7 GB

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

11.1/12

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

1920x1080@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

2560x1600@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

2560x1600@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

1920x1200@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI/VGA

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.3

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

613

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1044

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

745

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1390

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1982

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2216

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Pentium G4400

693 +13.1%

Core i7-3740QM

648 +5.7%

Pentium G3460

613

Xeon X5687

572 -6.7%

Xeon E7-8880 v2

536 -12.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-5020U

1340 +28.4%

Celeron G5925

1180 +13%

Pentium G3460

1044

PRO A6-9500

948 -9.2%

PRO A6-9500E

842 -19.3%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Pentium G3260

785 +5.4%

Ryzen 5 3400GE

769 +3.2%

Pentium G3460

745

Core i5-6400T

733 -1.6%

Xeon E5-2699 v4

711 -4.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i7-2635QM

1547 +11.3%

Pentium G3258

1466 +5.5%

Pentium G3460

1390

Core m7-6Y75

1331 -4.2%

Core i5-3427U

1239 -10.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7642

2036 +2.7%

Core i7-5700HQ

2008 +1.3%

Pentium G3460

1982

Core i7-6820HQ

1955 -1.4%

Athlon PRO 300U

1931 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-3230M

2558 +15.4%

Pentium G4400T

2324 +4.9%

Pentium G3460

2216

Core i3-2130

2030 -8.4%

Core i5-3439Y

1907 -13.9%