Ryzen 5 5600X vs Pentium 987
Ryzen 5 5600X
Pentium 987
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 987
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+118%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 Ryzen 5 5600X and Pentium 987
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium 987 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 1.5 GHz on the Pentium 987 — a 101.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Pentium 987 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Pentium 987's 1,487 — a 174.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 987.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+207% | 1.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+147% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+1500% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 21,845+1369% | 1,487 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Pentium 987 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) / not specified (Pentium 987). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Pentium 987 debuted at $134. At current prices ($135 vs $20), the Pentium 987 is $115 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 161.8 pts/$ vs 74.3 pts/$ for the Pentium 987 — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 74.1% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Pentium 987 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $134-55% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $135 | $20-85% |
| Performance per Dollar | 161.8+118% | 74.3 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2013 |
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