
Pentium E5400 vs Pentium 957

Pentium E5400

Pentium 957
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 E5400 is positioned at rank 830 and the Pentium 957 is on rank 1146, so the Pentium E5400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5400
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 957
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5400 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5400 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+394%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($49) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 E5400 and Pentium 957

Pentium E5400
The Pentium E5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $55.

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.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E5400 and Pentium 957 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium E5400 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium 957 — a 76.9% clock advantage for the Pentium E5400 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Pentium E5400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium 957 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5400 scores 1,007 against the Pentium 957's 1,015 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium 957. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E5400 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 957.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+125% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+125% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,007 | 1,015 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E5400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 957 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E5400 launched at $55 MSRP, while the Pentium 957 debuted at $134. At current prices ($49 vs $10), the Pentium 957 is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E5400 delivers 20.6 pts/$ vs 101.5 pts/$ for the Pentium 957 — making the Pentium 957 the 132.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E5400 | Pentium 957 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $55-59% | $134 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $49 | $10-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 20.6 | 101.5+393% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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