Intel Pentium D 960 Review

High-end Desktop processor released in 2006 with 2 cores and 2 threads. With base clock at 3.6GHz, max speed at 3.6GHz, and a 130W power rating. Pentium D 960 is based on the Presler 65nm family and part of the Pentium D series.
Price 53%
Speed 33%
Productivity 16%
Gaming 33%
Category Desktop
Target high-end
Socket Compatibility PLGA775
Integrated Graphics
Cooler Included
Overclock Potential 11 %
Year 2006 Model
Price 198.3 USD
Number of Cores 2 Cores
Number of Threads 2 Threads
Core Frequency 3.6 GHz
Boost Frequency 3.6 GHz
Max Stable Overclock 4 GHz
Power Consumption 130 W
Manufacturing Process 65 nm
L3 Cache 0 MB
Maximum Supported Memory 16 GB
Price-Value Score 53 %
Speed Score 33 %
Productivity Score 16 %
Gaming Score 33 %
Max 1080p Bottleneck 93.7 %
Max 1440p Bottleneck 46.8 %
Max 4K Bottleneck 23.4 %
Overall Score 26/100

The Pentium D 960 is one of Intel's high-end Desktop processors. It was released in 2006 with 2 cores and 2 threads. With base clock at 3.6GHz, max speed at 3.6GHz, and a 130W power rating. The Pentium D 960 is based on the Presler 65nm family and is part of the Pentium D series.

As the higher-priced version of the Pentium D 950, the Pentium D 960 has higher base and Boost frequencies of 3.6 and 3.6 GHz, respectively. That's an increase in base frequency and a bump to boost clocks, but the real advantage should lay in the higher Package Power Tracking (PPT) envelope, which is a measurement of the maximum amount of power delivered to the socket. The Pentium D 950's PPT tops out at 130W, while the motherboard can pump up to 142W to the Pentium D 960 at peak performance. That opens up much more aggressive boost behavior, on both single and multiple cores, that could widen the performance gap beyond what we see on the spec sheet.

If extended overclocking and boost frequencies are trivial matters to you, Intel also offers the Pentium D 950 at $198.3. It’s still outfitted with 2-cores and 2-threads, but clocks in at a slower 3.4GHz and maxes out at only 3.4GHz.

Fresh from a successful roll-out of mainstream Pentium D CPUs, Intel's attack on AMD now extends down into the high-end with its Pentium D 960 processors, which the company is making available as of on May 2006.

Which GPU to Pick for Intel Pentium D 960

Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the Intel Pentium D 960.

Graphics Card Price Cost Per Frame Avg 1080p Avg 1440p Avg 4K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB $ 1,599 $ 64.2 24.9 FPS
161.1 FPS
147 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 34.3 23.3 FPS
150.3 FPS
137.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB $ 999 $ 44.4 22.5 FPS
142.7 FPS
118.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB $ 1,199 $ 55.5 21.6 FPS
139.5 FPS
127.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB $ 799 $ 38.4 20.8 FPS
134 FPS
122.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB $ 899 $ 43.9 20.5 FPS
129.7 FPS
107.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB $ 1,499 $ 77.3 19.4 FPS
121 FPS
103.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB $ 1,099 $ 59.1 18.6 FPS
117.9 FPS
97.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB $ 1,999 $ 109.2 18.3 FPS
118 FPS
107.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB $ 999 $ 54.9 18.2 FPS
114.1 FPS
96.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB $ 649 $ 38 17.1 FPS
107.4 FPS
90.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 47.3 16.9 FPS
107.6 FPS
95.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB $ 699 $ 41.4 16.9 FPS
105.5 FPS
90.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB $ 599 $ 36.7 16.3 FPS
102.9 FPS
92.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB $ 599 $ 41.3 14.5 FPS
91.2 FPS
79.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB $ 579 $ 42.6 13.6 FPS
85.1 FPS
71.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB $ 499 $ 38.7 12.9 FPS
80.7 FPS
69.3 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB $ 2,499 $ 210 11.9 FPS
76.5 FPS
66.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB $ 1,299 $ 112 11.6 FPS
74.5 FPS
64.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB $ 479 $ 42 11.4 FPS
72.1 FPS
60.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB $ 399 $ 35.6 11.2 FPS
71.7 FPS
63.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB $ 399 $ 37.6 10.6 FPS
67.9 FPS
59.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB $ 699 $ 66.6 10.5 FPS
66.9 FPS
57.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 39.5 10.1 FPS
64.3 FPS
54.6 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB $ 2,999 $ 296.9 10.1 FPS
64.8 FPS
57.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB $ 299 $ 29.6 10.1 FPS
64.5 FPS
57.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB $ 269 $ 26.6 10.1 FPS
63.8 FPS
54 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB $ 699 $ 70.6 9.9 FPS
62.6 FPS
53.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB $ 379 $ 39.9 9.5 FPS
60 FPS
50.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB $ 759 $ 81.6 9.3 FPS
59.7 FPS
51.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB $ 499 $ 54.2 9.2 FPS
57.6 FPS
49.4 FPS
AMD Radeon VII 16GB $ 699 $ 76.8 9.1 FPS
57.2 FPS
48.3 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB $ 1,199 $ 131.8 9.1 FPS
57.6 FPS
50.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 44.8 8.9 FPS
55.7 FPS
47 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB $ 499 $ 56.7 8.8 FPS
53.9 FPS
46.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB $ 200 $ 22.7 8.8 FPS
55.7 FPS
49.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB $ 329 $ 37.8 8.7 FPS
54.4 FPS
47.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB $ 400 $ 48.2 8.3 FPS
50.1 FPS
42.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB $ 349 $ 43.1 8.1 FPS
51.1 FPS
43.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB $ 499 $ 63.2 7.9 FPS
48.8 FPS
41.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB $ 350 $ 44.9 7.8 FPS
46.1 FPS
38.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB $ 279 $ 36.2 7.7 FPS
47.8 FPS
40.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB $ 1,499 $ 202.6 7.4 FPS
45.1 FPS
40.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB $ 499 $ 67.4 7.4 FPS
46.3 FPS
39 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB $ 409 $ 56 7.3 FPS
45.2 FPS
38.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB $ 249 $ 34.6 7.2 FPS
43.9 FPS
37.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB $ 999 $ 140.7 7.1 FPS
43.4 FPS
36.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB $ 279 $ 39.9 7 FPS
43 FPS
36.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB $ 399 $ 57.8 6.9 FPS
43.3 FPS
36.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB $ 399 $ 59.6 6.7 FPS
41.3 FPS
34.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB $ 229 $ 34.7 6.6 FPS
40.6 FPS
34.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB $ 649 $ 104.7 6.2 FPS
38.1 FPS
32.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB $ 220 $ 35.5 6.2 FPS
38.2 FPS
32.2 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB $ 279 $ 47.3 5.9 FPS
35.2 FPS
29 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB $ 649 $ 115.9 5.6 FPS
36.2 FPS
31.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB $ 160 $ 29.6 5.4 FPS
33.2 FPS
27.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB $ 199 $ 37.5 5.3 FPS
32 FPS
26.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB $ 549 $ 103.6 5.3 FPS
32.3 FPS
27.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB $ 229 $ 44 5.2 FPS
31.2 FPS
25.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB $ 649 $ 127.3 5.1 FPS
32.3 FPS
27.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB $ 999 $ 199.8 5 FPS
29.9 FPS
26.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB $ 549 $ 114.4 4.8 FPS
30.4 FPS
25.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB $ 254 $ 52.9 4.8 FPS
29.1 FPS
24.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB $ 169 $ 35.2 4.8 FPS
28.7 FPS
23.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB $ 429 $ 91.3 4.7 FPS
29.2 FPS
24.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB $ 170 $ 37 4.6 FPS
27.7 FPS
23.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB $ 329 $ 73.1 4.5 FPS
27 FPS
23.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB $ 400 $ 90.9 4.4 FPS
27.2 FPS
23.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB $ 329 $ 76.5 4.3 FPS
26.7 FPS
21.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB $ 169 $ 39.3 4.3 FPS
26.3 FPS
21.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB $ 149 $ 36.3 4.1 FPS
25.1 FPS
21.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB $ 179 $ 47.1 3.8 FPS
23.6 FPS
19.8 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB $ 229 $ 71.6 3.2 FPS
19.6 FPS
16.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB $ 249 $ 85.9 2.9 FPS
17.7 FPS
14.3 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB $ 199 $ 68.6 2.9 FPS
17.5 FPS
14.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB $ 169 $ 60.4 2.8 FPS
17.3 FPS
14.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB $ 279 $ 99.6 2.8 FPS
17.3 FPS
13.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB $ 199 $ 71.1 2.8 FPS
16.8 FPS
14 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB $ 169 $ 70.4 2.4 FPS
14.6 FPS
12.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB $ 99 $ 45 2.2 FPS
13.4 FPS
11.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB $ 159 $ 72.3 2.2 FPS
13.1 FPS
11.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB $ 149 $ 71 2.1 FPS
12.3 FPS
10.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB $ 149 $ 71 2.1 FPS
11.9 FPS
10.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB $ 140 $ 70 2 FPS
11.8 FPS
9.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB $ 149 $ 78.4 1.9 FPS
10.2 FPS
8.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB $ 79 $ 49.4 1.6 FPS
9.4 FPS
7.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB $ 79 $ 52.7 1.5 FPS
8.9 FPS
7.1 FPS
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