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Intel Pentium G622

Intel Pentium G622: A Comprehensive Review of an Outdated Yet Relevant Solution

April 2025

Introduction: Why is Pentium G622 Still Being Discussed in 2025?

Despite being released over 14 years ago (in 2011), the Intel Pentium G622 remains a topic of interest for budget build enthusiasts. This processor, based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, can still be found on the secondary market or in remaining stock at stores for around $40–50. But is it worth considering in 2025? Let’s take a detailed look.

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Manufacturing Process, and Key Features

Sandy Bridge Architecture

The Pentium G622 belongs to the second generation of Intel Core processors (Sandy Bridge). The architecture is optimized for a balance between performance and energy efficiency. However, by 2025, it is hopelessly outdated: lacking support for AVX2, PCIe 3.0, and modern instructions for AI tasks.

- Manufacturing Process: 32 nm. For comparison, modern Intel processors use 7–10 nm.

- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, Turbo Boost is absent.

- Cache: 3 MB L3.

- TDP: 65 W – a modest figure even by today's standards.

Key Features:

- Integrated Intel HD Graphics (6 Execution Units). Suitable for 1080p output but not for gaming.

- Support for virtualization (VT-x).

2. Compatible Motherboards: Sockets and Chipsets

LGA 1155 Socket

All motherboards for the Pentium G622 use the LGA 1155 socket, which has been discontinued. New motherboards are not being produced, but it’s still possible to find leftovers on the market (for example, ASUS P8H61-M LX3 for $60–80) or used options.

Chipsets:

- H61/B65: Budget solutions without overclocking and USB 3.0 (except for B65).

- H67/Q67/P67/Z68: Advanced chipsets with support for SATA III (6 Gbit/s) and overclocking (only P67/Z68).

Selection Tips:

- Look for boards with USB 3.0 (like ASRock H67M) for faster storage.

- Check the condition of capacitors on used boards – old electrolytic ones can dry out.

3. Supported Memory: Only DDR3

The Pentium G622 only works with DDR3:

- Types: DDR3-1066/1333 MHz.

- Maximum Capacity: 32 GB (theoretically), but most H61 boards support up to 16 GB.

Example Configuration: 8 GB DDR3-1333 (2x4 GB) – optimal for office tasks. The cost of a new set is about $25–30.

4. Power Supply: Minimum Requirements

With a TDP of 65 W, the processor does not require a powerful PSU. However, it's important to consider other components:

- Minimum Recommendation: 300–400 W (for example, be quiet! System Power 10 400W, $45).

- For Systems with a Discrete Graphics Card: 450–500 W (if using a GPU like the GTX 1650).

Important: Avoid cheap noname power supplies – their efficiency and stability can be lacking.

5. Pros and Cons of Pentium G622

Pros:

- Price: $40–50 for a new processor (warehouse leftovers).

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for building low-powered PCs.

- Reliability: Sandy Bridge is known for its long lifespan.

Cons:

- Outdated Architecture: No support for Windows 11, DirectX 12 Ultimate.

- Limited Multitasking: 2 threads are a weak point for modern browsers and applications.

- No PCIe 3.0/4.0: Discrete GPUs and NVMe SSDs will be limited.

6. Use Cases

Office Tasks

- Working with documents, email, and browsers (up to 5–10 tabs).

- Example: A PC based on G622, 8 GB DDR3, 240 GB SSD – Windows 10 load speed – 15–20 seconds.

Multimedia

- Watching 1080p videos (YouTube, Netflix).

- HTPC builds: connecting to a TV via HDMI.

Light Gaming

- Older titles: CS:GO at low settings (30–40 FPS), Minecraft.

- Emulators up to PS1/N64.

Important: For gaming, a discrete graphics card will be required (like the GT 1030).

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon II X2 270

- Price: $30–35.

- Pros: Cheaper.

- Cons: No integrated graphics, higher TDP (65 W compared to Intel's 65 W).

Intel Pentium G4560 (Kaby Lake, 2017)

- Price: $60–70.

- Pros: 2 cores/4 threads, DDR4 support.

- Cons: More expensive, but significantly more powerful.

Conclusion: The G622 is only relevant for ultra-low budgets ($100–150 for the entire build).

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- SSD Required: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will reduce load on weak cores.

- Graphics Card: Don’t choose models costing more than $100 (like the RX 550) – the processor will become a bottleneck.

- Cooling: The box cooler is sufficient, but replace the thermal paste (like Arctic MX-4).

- OS: Windows 10 LTSC or Linux (Debian/Xubuntu) for resource optimization.

Sample Build:

- Processor: Pentium G622 ($45).

- Motherboard: ASUS P8H61-M LX3 ($70).

- Memory: 8 GB DDR3 ($25).

- SSD: 240 GB ($25).

- PSU: 400 W ($45).

- Case: Mini-Tower ($30).

Total: ~$240.

9. Final Verdict: Who is the Pentium G622 Suitable For?

This processor should only be considered in three cases:

1. Ultra-Budget Build for office or browsing.

2. Upgrading an Old PC on LGA 1155 (for example, replacing a Celeron).

3. HTPC or Terminal for basic tasks.

Why Not to Buy:

- If you need to work with modern applications, multitasking, or gaming.

- If you plan to upgrade in the future – the LGA 1155 platform is dead.

Alternatives:

- Used Core i5-2500 ($30–40) – 4 cores, higher performance.

- New Intel Celeron G6900 ($60) – supports DDR4, PCIe 5.0.

Conclusion

The Intel Pentium G622 in 2025 is a niche solution. It is suitable for those who value minimalism and do not require high performance. However, even on the secondary market, there are better options available. Purchase it only if other components are already available or if the budget is strictly limited to $200–250.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

May 2011

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.

G622

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

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

2.60 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.

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.

32 nm

TDP

65 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.

2.0

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

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

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 1066

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).

17 GB/s

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics for 2nd Generation Intel® Processors

Graphics Base Frequency

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

850 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

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

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 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

Instruction Set Extensions

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 Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

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

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

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