A4-9120 vs Pentium 997

A4-9120 vs Pentium 997 Performance Spectrum

A4-9120

2 / 2

1,222

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium 997

2 / 2

1,215

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.

A4-9120 vs Pentium 997 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.

A4-9120 vs Pentium 997: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A4-9120

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 17W, a 16W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R3, while Pentium 997 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium 997

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A4-9120 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,215 vs 1,222).
❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while A4-9120 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1600% higher power demand at 17W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-9120 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-9120 better than Pentium 997?

Yes. A4-9120 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% 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, A4-9120 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.1% 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, A4-9120 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

A4-9120 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. A4-9120 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium 997 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 5.1% in the shared gaming data.

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

A4-9120 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 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.

A4-9120 vs Pentium 997 Technical Specifications

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

A4-9120

The A4-9120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $50.

Pentium 997

The Pentium 997 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 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: 1,215 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the A4-9120 and Pentium 997 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 versus 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 — a 43.9% clock advantage for the A4-9120 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The A4-9120 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Pentium 997 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A4-9120 scores 1,222 against the Pentium 997's 1,215 — a 0.6% lead for the A4-9120.

Feature	A4-9120	Pentium 997
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz+56%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+38%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	—	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,222	1,215
Geekbench 6 Single	350	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-9120 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium 997 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A4-9120	Pentium 997
Socket	BGA	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-9120) / not specified (Pentium 997). The A4-9120 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3), while the Pentium 997 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350.