Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Phenom II X4 910

AMD

Athlon 64 FX-72

2 Cores2 Thrd125 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2006
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Phenom II X4 910

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2009
Similar parts
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Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Phenom II X4 910 Performance Spectrum

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.

Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Phenom II X4 910 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Phenom II X4 910: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 64 FX-72

2006

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $799 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 910 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 31.6% higher power demand at 125W vs 95W.

Phenom II X4 910

2009

Why buy it

  • Draws 95W instead of 125W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 FX-72 across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (1,776 vs 1,794).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 FX-72 better than Phenom II X4 910?
Yes. Athlon 64 FX-72 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 FX-72 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 FX-72 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon 64 FX-72 is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 FX-72 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $799 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (2.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Phenom II X4 910 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Phenom II X4 910 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

Athlon 64 FX-72

The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Phenom II X4 910

The Phenom II X4 910 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,776 points. Launch price was $100.

Processing Power

The Athlon 64 FX-72 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 910 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 910 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 910 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-72. The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Phenom II X4 910 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-72 scores 1,794 against the Phenom II X4 910's 1,776 — a 1% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-72. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-72 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 910.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-72Phenom II X4 910
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
2.8 GHz+8%
2.6 GHz
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
6 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB+100%
512 kB (per core)
Process
90 nm
45 nm-50%
Architecture
Windsor (2006−2007)
Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark
1,794+1%
1,776
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 910 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-72Phenom II X4 910
Socket
F
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0