A4-4000 vs Pentium 977

A4-4000 vs Pentium 977 Performance Spectrum

A4-4000

2 / 2

1,152

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium 977

2 / 2

1,148

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A4-4000 vs Pentium 977 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A4-4000 vs Pentium 977: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-4000

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7480D, while Pentium 977 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium 977.

Trade-offs

❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.

Pentium 977

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,148 vs 1,152).
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while A4-4000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-4000 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A4-4000.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-4000 better than Pentium 977?

Yes. A4-4000 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A4-4000 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-4000 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A4-4000 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. A4-4000 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium 977 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 2.2% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A4-4000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-4000 vs Pentium 977 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A4-4000

The A4-4000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,152 points. Launch price was $50.

Pentium 977

The Pentium 977 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,148 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the A4-4000 and Pentium 977 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the A4-4000 versus 1.4 GHz on the Pentium 977 — a 78.3% clock advantage for the A4-4000 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The A4-4000 uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium 977 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4000 scores 1,152 against the Pentium 977's 1,148 — a 0.3% lead for the A4-4000. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A4-4000 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 977.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium 977
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+129%	1.4 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+114%	1.4 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Richland (2013−2014)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,152	1,148
Geekbench 6 Single	348	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-4000 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium 977 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium 977
Socket	FM2	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-4000) / not specified (Pentium 977). The A4-4000 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7480D), while the Pentium 977 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4000 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-4000 rivals Celeron G1610.