CPU
GPU
Pentium 957
Athlon II X2 240e
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 957 is positioned at rank 1146 and the Athlon II X2 240e is on rank 941, so the Athlon II X2 240e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 957
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 240e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+676%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
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 957 and Athlon II X2 240e
Pentium 957
The Pentium 957 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 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: 1,015 points. Launch price was $134.
Athlon II X2 240e
The Athlon II X2 240e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 957 and Athlon II X2 240e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 240e — a 80% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 240e (base: 1.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium 957 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 240e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 957 scores 1,015 against the Athlon II X2 240e's 1,007 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium 957. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 957 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 240e.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+133% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+133% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,015 | 1,007 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 957 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 240e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 957) / true (Athlon II X2 240e). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 240e rivals Pentium E5400.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 957 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 240e debuted at $77. At current prices ($10 vs $77), the Pentium 957 is $67 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 957 delivers 101.5 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 240e — making the Pentium 957 the 154.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 957 | Athlon II X2 240e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | $77-43% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-87% | $77 |
| Performance per Dollar | 101.5+675% | 13.1 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2009 |
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