Pentium 997 vs Ryzen 7 5800X
Pentium 997
Popular choices:
Ryzen 7 5800X
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 997 is positioned at rank #1104 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 997
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 5800X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+27%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 Ryzen 7 5800X
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.
Ryzen 7 5800X
The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.
Processing Power
The Pentium 997 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5800X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X — a 98.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800X (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Pentium 997 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 997 scores 1,215 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 — a 183.2% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 997 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 8 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz+194% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz+137% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 32 MB+1500% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,215 | 27,712+2181% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 997 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 997) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium 997 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800X debuted at $449. At current prices ($10 vs $180), the Pentium 997 is $170 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium 997 delivers 121.5 pts/$ vs 154.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800X — making the Ryzen 7 5800X the 23.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium 997 | Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-70% | $449 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-94% | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.5 | 154.0+27% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2020 |
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