CPU
GPU
Core i7-950
Pentium Gold 4417U
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 Core i7-950 is positioned at rank 1067 and the Pentium Gold 4417U is on rank 193, so the Pentium Gold 4417U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-950
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Gold 4417U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-950 | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-950 | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+977%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
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 Core i7-950 and Pentium Gold 4417U
Core i7-950
The Core i7-950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,250 points. Launch price was $290.
Pentium Gold 4417U
The Pentium Gold 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,240 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Core i7-950 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Pentium Gold 4417U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-950 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-950 versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 4417U — a 36.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-950 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-950 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Gold 4417U uses Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-950 scores 3,250 against the Pentium Gold 4417U's 3,240 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-950. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-950 vs 2 MB on the Pentium Gold 4417U.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz+45% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+33% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+300% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,250 | 3,240 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-950 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Gold 4417U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-950 launched at $562 MSRP, while the Pentium Gold 4417U debuted at $161.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $562 | $161-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2019 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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