Pentium 987 vs Core i7-12700K
Pentium 987
Core i7-12700K
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. The Pentium 987 is positioned at rank #1052 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 987
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-12700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+62%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
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 987 and Core i7-12700K
Pentium 987
The Pentium 987 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 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: 1,487 points. Launch price was $134.
Core i7-12700K
The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.
Processing Power
The Pentium 987 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 107.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Pentium 987 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 987 scores 1,487 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 183.4% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987 vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 12 / 20+500% |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 5 GHz+233% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+140% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+1150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 32 nm | 10 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) |
| PassMark | 1,487 | 34,347+2210% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 987 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 987) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Pentium 987 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 987 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. At current prices ($20 vs $285), the Pentium 987 is $265 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 987 delivers 74.3 pts/$ vs 120.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i7-12700K the 47.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-67% | $409 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-93% | $285 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.3 | 120.5+62% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2021 |
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