Review: intel pentium g3258 20th anniversary edition

A few weeks ago, one of the most anticipated processors from the blue giant arrived on the Spanish market. This is the Intel Pentium G3258 20th anniversary edition . Its core is based on the Haswell architecture of 20nm at 3200mhz, Intel Quick Sync Video support and compatible with Intel 8 and 9 series chipsets.

The attractive thing about this processor is that Intel finally launches a Pentium with unlocked multiplier that allows us to increase its frequencies up to 50 to 60% of its base performance, with a very competitive price of € 60 that fights against all AMD APUs.

Technical characteristics

* Frequently asked questions:

- My heatsink is compatible with socket 1155 and 1556. Is it compatible with socket 1150?

Yes. We have tested different motherboards and they all have the same holes as in socket 1155 and 1156.

- Is my power supply compatible with Intel Haswell?

There are no Haswell certified power supplies. Most of the manufacturers have already released the list of compatible sources: Antec, Corsair, Enermax, Nox, Aerocool / Tacens and Thermaltake. Giving 98% absolute compatibility.

Intel Pentium G3258

Intel has little changed in its last years the packaging and the cooling system in its boxed processors. The box has a corporate blue design and a classic cover. We see a small seal that refers to the 20th anniversary of the blue giant.

The heatsink has a small copper base and aluminum fins. In itself, it includes a small thermal paste. This heatsink seems a bit weak to an overcocking processor.

Let's delve a little into its most important features: it consists of two cores with two threads of execution (2/2), this means that it does not have the Hyperthreading function enabled. Its base frequency is 3200 mhz, which by the way has no turbo. It also comes with a 256KB cache of L2 cache and 3MB of L3 cache.

It has a 1333 Mhz DDR3 memory base controller. Regarding his TDP, it is the same that has his brothers blocked with a total of 56W. Do not worry, the TDP is not going to be a problem when it comes to overclocking, it will involve more the thermal paste that Intel uses (it does not use IHS welding) and the refrigeration that we use of medium or high range.

One of its weakest points is the basic Intel HD integrated graphics card (iGP). As we have mentioned, it also falters in the serial heatsink, since the processor in stock values does not exceed 65ºC with it. When it is overclocked we see that its temperatures can fluctuate between 80ºC to 100ºC, temperatures that we must avoid at all costs. So it is of receipt to buy a heatsinks of something more quality, since the overclocking capacity will depend on our pockets.

Testing bench

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel Pentium G3258 20th Anniversary
Base plate:	Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H Black Edition
Memory:	G.Skills Trident X 2400mhz.
Heatsink	Noctua NH-D15
HDD	Samsumg 840 250GB.
Graphic card	Asus GTX780.
Power supply	Antec HCP 850.

To check the stability of the processor we have used a very efficient motherboard in consumption / cooling. We have overclocked 4700mhz with Prime 95 Custom, reaching the limit of air cooling. The graphic that we have used is TOP RANGE: Asus GTX 780.

Synthetic tests

Games tests

Temperatures and Overclock

We are seeing that the performance is quite good and getting overclocked is quite easy. Although the blackest point of the processor is the temperature. Reached excessive degrees (80º C) at full performance when we overclocked 4700 mhz at 1.37v without tuning.

Final words and conclusion

The Intel Pentium G3258 is a low-end processor but with the ability to allow us to overclock. This function we were claiming in recent years in the range of Intel processors. From base we start with 3200 mhz, 3MB of L3 cache and compatibility with DDR3 memory at 1333 Mhz. Standard includes the typical copper and aluminum heatsink, basic that simply serves to get us out of trouble.

I really like its overclocking capacity, and depending on the unit that we are playing, it will be better or worse. The one we have in our test bench allows us to go up to 4700 mhz easily. Although for my taste its ideal point is found at 4500 mhz with 1.30v by air, I have seen units reach those frequencies with just 1.26v, so I do not have a black leg. We also have to take into account the voltage and the temperature. Since by air we should never exceed 1.35v and 75ºC per core.

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We have tested with a high end Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H Black Edition motherboard, a GTX780 graphics card and a high end air cooling system. The serial results are not a good thing. When we have already overclocked (40% of its potential) at 4, 500 mhz we have achieved an excellent gaming experience. For example Battlefield 4, Diablo 3 or NBA 2k14 itself are very fluid.

What I did not like is that Intel provides us with the classic heatsink, and that is that for a little more 5 to 8 € could improve its quality significantly. That minimum improvement could easily reach 4, 000 to 4, 100 mhz.

Intel has launched this range to compete head-to-head with AMD APUs, and is that if we ignore the integrated graphics card, it has nothing to envy and can become a strong ally for a modest gamer team. For example, an i3 Haswell is a little above this Pentium at 4.5 ghz.

In short, if you are looking for a good, beautiful, cheap processor with a great overclocking capacity, the Intel Pentium G3258 is the ideal candidate. Its store price is € 59.90 available for purchase.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ GREAT OVERCLOCK CAPACITY.	- SERIAL HEAT SINK IS NOT ENOUGH FOR OVERCLOCK.
+ INTEGRATED BASIC GRAPHICS CARD.
+ SUPPORTS HIGH-SPEED DDR3 MEMORY.
+ LOW CONSUMPTION
+ YOUR TEMPERATURE IS GOOD.
+ EXCELLENT PRICE.