CPU
GPU
Athlon II X4 631
Phenom II X4 820
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 Athlon II X4 631 is positioned at rank 651 and the Phenom II X4 820 is on rank 916, so the Athlon II X4 631 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 631
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 820
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+234%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Athlon II X4 631 and Phenom II X4 820
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.
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 |
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 631 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Phenom II X4 820 debuted at $150. At current prices ($15 vs $50), the Athlon II X4 631 is $35 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 631 delivers 141.2 pts/$ vs 42.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X4 820 — making the Athlon II X4 631 the 107.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-47% | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-70% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 141.2+234% | 42.3 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2009 |
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