Intel Pentium G3250T socket: LGA 1150

What the Pentium G3250T is

The Pentium G3250T is a low power Haswell Pentium for compact desktops on LGA 1150. Intel set two cores and two threads at 2.8 GHz with 3 MB of Smart Cache. Power is 35 W on 22 nm from July 2014. No turbo keeps response even in slim bodies with limited airflow.

At 2.8 GHz it outpaces Celeron T parts by clocks and cache while staying in the same 35 W class. Office apps, web meetings and light photo work run well with an SSD. Two threads cap heavy multitasking, but power draw stays low for always on roles. Builders choose the T where a 53 W Pentium would overheat a tiny case.

Intel HD Graphics for 4th Generation processors from 200 MHz to 1.1 GHz handles office displays. DDR3-1333 and DDR3L-1333 across two channels to 32 GB feed the chip. ECC support on business boards suits kiosks and terminals. It is a quiet Haswell socket for space constrained fleets.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The G3250T fits LGA 1150 on 8 series boards such as H81, B85 and H87, plus 9 series boards such as H97 and Z97. Haswell is native on both series, so most boards boot it without a BIOS update. Check the maker CPU table for slim OEM boards, since T support is listed per model.

Mounting is 75 × 75 mm, common across nearby LGA sockets. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide details fit. Chips for LGA 1151 never fit this socket. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains series choice for low power builds.

Small boards with 35 W profiles match this chip best. Enable low power limits in firmware for steady fan speed.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is DDR3-1333 and DDR3L-1333 in two channels to 32 GB. Eight gigabytes suits office use with an SSD. Two equal sticks aid integrated graphics in calls. ECC works where board and chipset wire it for business use.

Sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU feed one slot for expansion. Most T systems keep integrated video and use lanes for network or storage cards. Chipset lanes add SATA and USB for drives. Low profile cards fit slim slots where airflow allows.

Cooling follows the LGA 1150 75 mm pattern with low height 35 W units. No high tower is needed at 2.8 GHz. Keep vents open, since compact cases trap heat around the 37.5 × 37.5 mm package.

Upgrade paths

On the same socket the Intel Celeron G1840T at 2.5 GHz is a lower cost 35 W option on identical boards, while the Intel Core i3-4150T at 2.9 GHz with four threads adds Hyper-Threading for multitasking fleets. Both reuse DDR3 and 35 W cooling, so board support is the only check.

A bigger step needs a new socket, board and memory. The G3250T holds slim Haswell desks where 2.8 GHz dual core power is enough.