Athlon II X4 631 vs Phenom II X4 820

Athlon II X4 631 vs Phenom II X4 820 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 631

4 / 4

2,118

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Phenom II X4 820

4 / 4

2,114

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 II X4 631 vs Phenom II X4 820 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 II X4 631 vs Phenom II X4 820: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X4 631

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $70 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Delivers 87.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 26.5 vs 14.1 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Phenom II X4 820

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 100W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 631 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,114 vs 2,118).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.1 vs 26.5 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 631 better than Phenom II X4 820?

Yes. Athlon II X4 631 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 631 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 631 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon II X4 631 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 631 comes in $70 cheaper on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 87.9% better value on MSRP (26.5 vs 14.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon II X4 631 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 631 vs Phenom II X4 820 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 631

The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.

Phenom II X4 820

The Phenom II X4 820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,114 points. Launch price was $90.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 631 and Phenom II X4 820 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 820 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 820 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Phenom II X4 820's 2,114 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 820.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Phenom II X4 820
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	2.8 GHz+8%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	2.8 GHz+8%
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	2,118	2,114

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 820 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Phenom II X4 820
Socket	FM1	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 631 was priced at $80, while the Phenom II X4 820 came in at $150. On launch pricing ($80 vs $150), Athlon II X4 631 was $70 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 631 delivers 26.5 pts/$ vs 14.1 pts/$ for the Phenom II X4 820 — making the Athlon II X4 631 the 61% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Phenom II X4 820
MSRP	$80-47%	$150
Performance per Dollar	26.5+88%	14.1
Release Date	2011	2009

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