Celeron G1820T vs Phenom II X3 720
Celeron G1820T
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 G1820T is positioned at rank 500 and the Phenom II X3 720 is on rank 957, so the Celeron G1820T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1820T
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G1820T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G1820T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 G1820T and Phenom II X3 720
Celeron G1820T
The Celeron G1820T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,599 points. Launch price was $42.
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 G1820T 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 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G1820T versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Celeron G1820T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G1820T scores 1,599 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 415 vs 380, a 8.8% lead for the Celeron G1820T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 629 vs 980 (43.6% advantage for the Phenom II X3 720). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Celeron G1820T vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Celeron G1820T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+17% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,599 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 415+9% | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 629 | 980+56% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G1820T uses the LGA1150 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 G1820T 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: H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1820T) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720).
| Feature | Celeron G1820T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | 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 (Celeron G1820T) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). The Celeron G1820T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Phenom II X3 720 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1820T targets Budget, Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G1820T rivals Pentium G3220T.
| Feature | Celeron G1820T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Desktop |
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