Pentium 997 vs Core i5-430M
Pentium 997
Core i5-430M
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 997 is positioned at rank 1104 and the Core i5-430M is on rank 12, so the Core i5-430M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 997
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-430M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+231%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) |
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 997 and Core i5-430M
Pentium 997
The Pentium 997 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 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: 1,215 points. Launch price was $134.
Core i5-430M
The Core i5-430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $79.
Processing Power
The Pentium 997 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-430M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core i5-430M — a 45% clock advantage for the Core i5-430M (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Pentium 997 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-430M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 997 scores 1,215 against the Core i5-430M's 1,210 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium 997. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 997 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-430M.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.53 GHz+58% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.26 GHz+41% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,215 | 1,210 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 750 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 997 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-430M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 997) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-430M). The Core i5-430M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium 997 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-430M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-430M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Performance Laptop |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($10 vs $33), the Pentium 997 is $23 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 997 delivers 121.5 pts/$ vs 36.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-430M — making the Pentium 997 the 107.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Core i5-430M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-70% | $33 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.5+231% | 36.7 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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