Pentium 957 vs Pentium 2117U

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.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium 2117U 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.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium 2117U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium 957

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 17W instead of 512W, a 495W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while Pentium 2117U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Pentium 2117U

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,009 vs 1,015).
❌2911.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium 957 better than Pentium 2117U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium 2117U is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 957 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 957 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium 957 is the better buy right now. Pentium 957 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $134 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Pentium 2117U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2117U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium 957 vs Pentium 2117U Technical Specifications

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

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.

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.

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Processing Power

Both the Pentium 957 and Pentium 2117U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 versus 1.8 GHz on the Pentium 2117U — a 40% clock advantage for the Pentium 2117U (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Pentium 957 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium 2117U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 957 scores 1,015 against the Pentium 2117U's 1,009 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium 957. Both processors carry 2 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Pentium 957	Pentium 2117U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.2 GHz	1.8 GHz+50%
Base Clock	1.2 GHz	1.8 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,015	1,009