
Pentium E5700 vs Pentium B970

Pentium E5700

Pentium B970
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 E5700 is positioned at rank 904 and the Pentium B970 is on rank 1112, so the Pentium E5700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5700
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5700 | Pentium B970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5700 | Pentium B970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+161%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
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 E5700 and Pentium B970

Pentium E5700
The Pentium E5700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,096 points. Launch price was $110.

Pentium B970
The Pentium B970 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,093 points. Launch price was $125.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium E5700 and Pentium B970 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Pentium E5700 versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium B970 — a 26.4% clock advantage for the Pentium E5700 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Pentium E5700 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium B970 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5700 scores 1,096 against the Pentium B970's 1,093 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium E5700. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E5700 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B970.
| Feature | Pentium E5700 | Pentium B970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+30% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+30% | 2.3 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 | 1,096 | 1,093 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E5700 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium B970 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E5700 | Pentium B970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E5700 launched at $75 MSRP, while the Pentium B970 debuted at $125. At current prices ($15 vs $39), the Pentium E5700 is $24 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E5700 delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 28.0 pts/$ for the Pentium B970 — making the Pentium E5700 the 89.1% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E5700 | Pentium B970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-40% | $125 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-62% | $39 |
| Performance per Dollar | 73.1+161% | 28.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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