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Intel Pentium G850

Intel Pentium G850: A Comprehensive Review of an Obsolete Budget Processor

April 2025

1. Key Features: Sandy Bridge in Detail

The Intel Pentium G850, released in the second quarter of 2011, belongs to the Sandy Bridge architecture — the second generation of Intel Core processors. Despite its age, it is still found in budget builds and office PCs.

Process Technology and Cores

- 32 nm technology: In 2011, this was standard, but by 2025 such chips are considered outdated (modern processors use 5–7 nm technology).

- 2 cores / 2 threads: The absence of Hyper-Threading limits multitasking capabilities.

- Base frequency: 2.9 GHz, with no Turbo Boost.

Performance

- Geekbench 6: Single-Core — 474, Multi-Core — 823. For comparison, a modern budget processor like the Intel Celeron G6900 (2023) scores around ~1500/2500 points.

- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) with a base frequency of 850 MHz. Adequate for HD video and older games (for instance, Half-Life 2 on low settings).

Key Features

- Support for SSE4.1/4.2 and AVX instructions.

- Energy efficiency: A TDP of 65 W allows for the use of compact cooling systems.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket: LGA 1155 — a socket that disappeared from the market in the mid-2010s. New motherboards for it are no longer being produced, so the only option is the used market.

Chipsets:

- H61, B65, H67: Budget options with basic functionality (USB 2.0, SATA II).

- Z68, P67: For enthusiasts, with overclocking support (though the G850 itself is not unlocked).

Examples of Boards:

- ASUS P8H61-M LE: Compact micro-ATX, used price — $15–25.

- Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3: More advanced, but rare in 2025.

Selection Tips:

- Check the condition of capacitors on used boards.

- Ensure BIOS version support for Sandy Bridge (not all LGA 1155 boards are compatible with Ivy Bridge).

3. Supported Memory Types

The Pentium G850 works only with DDR3:

- Officially: DDR3-1066/1333 MHz.

- Maximum capacity: 32 GB (but motherboards from that era rarely support more than 16 GB).

Features:

- No support for DDR4/DDR5 — this is the main limitation for upgrades.

- To enhance system responsiveness, use dual-channel mode (2 modules of 4 GB instead of 1×8 GB).

4. Power Supply Recommendations

With a TDP of 65 W, the Pentium G850 is not demanding in terms of power:

- Minimum: 300 W (for example, EVGA 300 BR).

- Recommended option: 400–500 W (Corsair CX450) — sufficient for a discrete graphics card like the GTX 750 Ti.

Important:

- Avoid cheap noname power supplies — they can damage older components.

- For systems without a dedicated graphics card, 250 W is sufficient.

5. Pros and Cons of the Processor

Pros:

- Price: On the used market — $10–20 (for a complete system with a motherboard and memory — $50–70).

- Energy efficiency: Suitable for media centers or routers.

- Ease of cooling: Even the stock cooler is adequate.

Cons:

- Outdated architecture: Falls short even against budget modern CPUs (for example, the Intel N100).

- Lack of multithreading: 2 threads — a problem for browsers with 10+ tabs.

- No support for modern interfaces: USB 3.0, NVMe, HDMI 2.0.

6. Use Cases in 2025

Office Tasks:

- Document work, Excel, web browsing (1–5 tabs).

- Example: A system based on G850 + 8 GB DDR3 + 240 GB SSD can handle Word and Zoom but may lag when simultaneously running Discord and YouTube.

Multimedia:

- Playback of 1080p video via VLC or Kodi.

- Limitation: 4K is not supported even hardware-wise.

Gaming:

- Older titles: CS:GO on low settings (30–40 FPS), World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

- Emulators: PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64 — no problems.

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon II X2 260:

- Similar performance, but the AM3 platform is even less relevant in 2025.

Intel Celeron G5905 (2020):

- A modern equivalent: 2 cores/2 threads, but based on the Comet Lake architecture (14 nm), Geekbench 6 — ~900/1600. New price — $50.

Raspberry Pi 5:

- For enthusiasts: ARM processor with support for HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.0, power consumption of 5 W.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- SSD is a must: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will reduce system boot times.

- Memory: 8 GB DDR3 (2×4 GB) — the minimum for Windows 10/11.

- Graphics card: If gaming is needed, add a GT 1030 (GDDR5) — it does not require additional power.

- Case: Any mini-tower with ventilation will do (for example, Fractal Design Core 1100).

9. Final Verdict: Who is the Pentium G850 Suitable For?

This processor is suitable for:

1. Enthusiasts building retro computers to run old games.

2. Budget office systems, where minimal cost is key (for example, a cash register terminal).

3. Upgrading old PCs (if the motherboard and memory are already available).

Alternative for New Builds: Even used Intel Core i5-2500 (4 cores/4 threads, $20–30) or a new Intel N100 Mini-PC ($150) offer better performance and modern interfaces.

Conclusion: The Pentium G850 in 2025 is a relic, but it can still be useful in niche scenarios. However, for most users, it makes more sense to invest in more modern solutions.

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.

G850

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

2.90 GHz

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.

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.

CPU Socket

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

FCLGA1155

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 1066/1333

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).

21 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.

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

474

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

823

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

513

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

922

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1355

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1424

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E5-1410

546 +15.2%

FX-9370

504 +6.3%

Pentium G850

474

A6-6400K

435 -8.2%

Core i3-3120M

404 -14.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-3130M

1036 +25.9%

Core i5-3427U

937 +13.9%

Pentium G850

823

Xeon E3-1220L v2

678 -17.6%

A4-5300B

587 -28.7%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Celeron G1830

549 +7%

Xeon X5675

528 +2.9%

Pentium G850

513

Core i5-2500T

498 -2.9%

Athlon X4 740

485 -5.5%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-3610ME

1093 +18.5%

EPYC 7532

1022 +10.8%

Pentium G850

922

A8-5557M

847 -8.1%

A8-3520M

781 -15.3%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2430

1425 +5.2%

Athlon II X3 460

1393 +2.8%

Pentium G850

1355

Pentium G640

1301 -4%

Core M-5Y31

1256 -7.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium G3260T

1755 +23.2%

A8-3550MX

1579 +10.9%

Pentium G850

1424

Athlon X2 450

1295 -9.1%

A6-3400M

1188 -16.6%