Celeron E3400 vs Pentium 997

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.

Celeron E3400 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.

Celeron E3400 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.

Celeron E3400

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $81 less on MSRP ($53 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Delivers 153.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 23.0 vs 9.1 PassMark/$ ($53 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Pentium 997.

Trade-offs

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

Pentium 997

2012

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,215 vs 1,220).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.1 vs 23.0 PassMark/$ ($134 MSRP vs $53 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Celeron E3400.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron E3400 better than Pentium 997?

Yes. Celeron E3400 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Celeron E3400 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.1% 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, Celeron E3400 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron E3400 is the better buy right now. Celeron E3400 comes in $81 cheaper on MSRP at $53 MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 153.9% better value on MSRP (23.0 vs 9.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium 997 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron E3400 vs Pentium 997 Technical Specifications

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

Celeron E3400

The Celeron E3400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,220 points. Launch price was $76.

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 Celeron E3400 and Pentium 997 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron E3400 versus 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 — a 47.6% clock advantage for the Celeron E3400 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Celeron E3400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium 997 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron E3400 scores 1,220 against the Pentium 997's 1,215 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron E3400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron E3400 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 997.

Feature	Celeron E3400	Pentium 997
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+63%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+63%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (total)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Wolfdale (2008−2010)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,220	1,215
Geekbench 6 Single	347	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	624	—

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron E3400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 997 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Celeron E3400	Pentium 997
Socket	LGA775	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	8	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Celeron E3400) / not specified (Pentium 997). Primary use case: Celeron E3400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron E3400 rivals Pentium E5200.

Feature	Celeron E3400	Pentium 997
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—
Target Use	Budget	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Celeron E3400 was priced at $53, while the Pentium 997 came in at $134. On launch pricing ($53 vs $134), Celeron E3400 was $81 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron E3400 delivers 23.0 pts/$ vs 9.1 pts/$ for the Pentium 997 — making the Celeron E3400 the 87% better value option.

Feature	Celeron E3400	Pentium 997
MSRP	$53-60%	$134
Performance per Dollar	23.0+153%	9.1
Release Date	2010	2012

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