Celeron G1620 vs Phenom II X3 720
Celeron G1620
Phenom II X3 720
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 Celeron G1620 is positioned at rank 590 and the Phenom II X3 720 is on rank 957, so the Celeron G1620 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1620
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
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 Celeron G1620 and Phenom II X3 720
Celeron G1620
The Celeron G1620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 December 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,586 points. Launch price was $208.
Phenom II X3 720
The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Celeron G1620 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 720 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 720 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Celeron G1620 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Celeron G1620 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G1620 scores 1,586 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.9% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 441 vs 380, a 14.9% lead for the Celeron G1620 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 760 vs 980 (25.3% advantage for the Phenom II X3 720). L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G1620 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,586 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 441+16% | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 760 | 980+29% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G1620 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Celeron G1620 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H77,B75,Z77,H61,P67,Z68 (Celeron G1620) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720).
| Feature | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Phenom II X3 720 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Celeron G1620) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). The Celeron G1620 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge GT1)), while the Phenom II X3 720 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1620 targets Desktop, Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G1620 rivals Pentium G2030.
| Feature | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge GT1) | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G1620 launched at $52 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 720 debuted at $130. At current prices ($40 vs $64), the Celeron G1620 is $24 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G1620 delivers 39.6 pts/$ vs 25.0 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Celeron G1620 the 45.3% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G1620 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $52-60% | $130 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-38% | $64 |
| Performance per Dollar | 39.6+58% | 25.0 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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