Pentium 987 vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Pentium 987
Popular choices:
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
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 Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+72%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) |
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 Ryzen 9 7950X3D
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.
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,323 points. Launch price was $699.
Processing Power
The Pentium 987 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 versus 5.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — a 116.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D (base: 1.5 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Pentium 987 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 987 scores 1,487 against the Ryzen 9 7950X3D's 62,323 — a 190.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987 vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 16 / 32+700% |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 5.7 GHz+280% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 4.2 GHz+180% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 128 MB (total)+6300% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 5 nm, 6 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 1,487 | 62,323+4091% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 38,581 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,926 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 19,643 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 987 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 28 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 987) / true (Ryzen 9 7950X3D). The Ryzen 9 7950X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Pentium 987 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7950X3D rivals Core i9-13900K.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 987 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D debuted at $699. At current prices ($20 vs $486), the Pentium 987 is $466 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 987 delivers 74.3 pts/$ vs 128.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — making the Ryzen 9 7950X3D the 53.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 987 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-81% | $699 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-96% | $486 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.3 | 128.2+73% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2023 |
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