Ryzen 5 5600X vs Pentium B980

Ryzen 5 5600X

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2020

Pentium B980

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2012

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Ryzen 5 5600X

6 / 12

21,845

+1884.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Pentium B980

2 / 2

1,101

0.0%

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X

#24

Celeron G5925

MSRP: $62|Avg: $15

116%

#25

Ryzen 5 7500F

MSRP: $179|Avg: $145

114%

#26

Core Ultra 5 245

MSRP: $319|Avg: $220

113%

#27

Ryzen 7 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $86

112%

#28

Core Ultra 7 265KF

MSRP: $379|Avg: $323

112%

#29

Core Ultra 7 265F

MSRP: $369|Avg: $276

110%

#30

Core i5-12400F

MSRP: $174|Avg: $110

110%

#31

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

108%

#32

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $100

108%

#33

Core i3-10100F

MSRP: $88|Avg: $50

108%

#34

Ryzen 5 7400F

MSRP: $150|Avg: $147

107%

#35

Ryzen 5 9600X

MSRP: $279|Avg: $178

104%

#36

Ryzen 7 3800X

MSRP: $399|Avg: $140

102%

#37

Ryzen 3 5300G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

101%

#38

Ryzen 9 7900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $316

100%

#39

Ryzen 5 5600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $135

100%

#40

Core i5-14600KF

MSRP: $304|Avg: $239

100%

#41

Ryzen 7 5800

MSRP: $349|Avg: $160

99%

#42

Core i3-14100F

MSRP: $109|Avg: $96

99%

#43

Ryzen 7 3700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $140

99%

#44

Ryzen 5 7600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $178

98%

#45

Ryzen 3 3100

MSRP: $99|Avg: $75

98%

#46

Core i5-13490F

MSRP: $235|Avg: $170

97%

#47

Ryzen 5 5600F

MSRP: $99|Avg: $129

97%

#48

Ryzen 9 PRO 3900

MSRP: $499|Avg: $200

97%

#49

Ryzen 3 4300GE

MSRP: $94|Avg: $72

96%

#50

Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE

MSRP: $169|Avg: $50

96%

#51

Core Ultra 5 225

MSRP: $240|Avg: $200

96%

#52

Core i5-11500

MSRP: $192|Avg: $110

96%

#53

Core i3-12100F

MSRP: $97|Avg: $90

96%

#54

Core Ultra 7 265

MSRP: $384|Avg: $320

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium B980

#1098

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3330%

#1099

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3281%

#1100

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3012%

#1101

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2999%

#1102

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2971%

#1104

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2869%

#1105

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2751%

#1106

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2747%

#1107

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2673%

#1110

Pentium B980

MSRP: $125|Avg: $35

100%

#1111

Celeron 867

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

100%

#1112

Pentium B970

MSRP: $125|Avg: $39

99%

#1113

Core i5-2410M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

99%

#1114

Pentium T2370

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

98%

#1115

Pentium N3710

MSRP: $161|Avg: $50

98%

#1116

Core m3-7Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

98%

#1117

Pentium 977

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

97%

#1118

Core i7-2715QE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $50

97%

#1119

VIA Nano U2250

MSRP: $50|Avg: $10

96%

#1121

Core i5-560M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

96%

#1122

Pentium U5600

MSRP: $100|Avg: $50

95%

#1124

Core m5-6Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

95%

#1125

Core i7-610E

MSRP: $250|Avg: $40

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Ryzen 5 5600X (2020) utilizes 7 nm, 12 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Ryzen 5 5600X	Pentium B980
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($135)	✅ More affordable ($35)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Pentium B980 (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Ryzen 5 5600X	Pentium B980
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+414%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($135)	✅ More affordable ($35)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Pentium B980 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Pentium B980

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 B980

The Pentium B980 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,101 points. Launch price was $125.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium B980 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 2.4 GHz on the Pentium B980 — a 62.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Pentium B980 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Pentium B980's 1,101 — a 180.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B980.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Pentium B980
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+200%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+92%	2.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+54%	2.4 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+1884%	1,101

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Pentium B980 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Pentium B980
Socket	AM4	PGA988
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 B980). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600X	Pentium B980
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 B980 debuted at $125. At current prices ($135 vs $35), the Pentium B980 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 161.8 pts/$ vs 31.5 pts/$ for the Pentium B980 — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 134.9% better value option.