CPU
GPU
Athlon II X3 415e
Pentium 987
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X3 415e is positioned at rank 798 and the Pentium 987 is on rank 1052, so the Athlon II X3 415e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 415e
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 987
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 415e | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 415e | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X3 415e and Pentium 987
Athlon II X3 415e
The Athlon II X3 415e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,481 points. Launch price was $75.
Pentium 987
The Pentium 987 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 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: 1,487 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 415e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium 987 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 415e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X3 415e versus 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 — a 50% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 415e (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X3 415e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium 987 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 415e scores 1,481 against the Pentium 987's 1,487 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium 987. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 415e vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 415e | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+67% | 1.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+67% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,481 | 1,487 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 415e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 987 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 415e | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 415e launched at $75 MSRP, while the Pentium 987 debuted at $134. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Athlon II X3 415e is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 415e delivers 98.7 pts/$ vs 74.3 pts/$ for the Pentium 987 — making the Athlon II X3 415e the 28.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 415e | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-44% | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 98.7+33% | 74.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II X3 415e and Pentium 987
