
Pentium 2117U vs Pentium E5400

Pentium 2117U

Pentium E5400
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 Pentium 2117U is positioned at rank 117 and the Pentium E5400 is on rank 830, so the Pentium 2117U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 2117U
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 2117U | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 2117U | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) |
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 Pentium 2117U and Pentium E5400

Pentium 2117U
The Pentium 2117U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,009 points. Launch price was $134.

Pentium E5400
The Pentium E5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $55.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 2117U and Pentium E5400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Pentium 2117U versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium E5400 — a 40% clock advantage for the Pentium E5400 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Pentium 2117U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium E5400 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 2117U scores 1,009 against the Pentium E5400's 1,007 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium 2117U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 2117U vs 0 kB on the Pentium E5400.
| Feature | Pentium 2117U | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.7 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.7 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,009 | 1,007 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 2117U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium E5400 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 2117U | Pentium E5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
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