Core i3-2100T vs Phenom II X4 P960
Core i3-2100T
Phenom II X4 P960
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 Core i3-2100T is positioned at rank 962 and the Phenom II X4 P960 is on rank 431, so the Phenom II X4 P960 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2100T
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 P960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2100T | Phenom II X4 P960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($127) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2100T | Phenom II X4 P960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($127) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core i3-2100T and Phenom II X4 P960
Core i3-2100T
The Core i3-2100T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,531 points. Launch price was $180.
Phenom II X4 P960
The Phenom II X4 P960 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,542 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2100T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 P960 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 P960 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-2100T versus 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P960 — a 32.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-2100T. The Core i3-2100T uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 P960 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2100T scores 1,531 against the Phenom II X4 P960's 1,542 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X4 P960.
| Feature | Core i3-2100T | Phenom II X4 P960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+39% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,531 | 1,542 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2100T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 P960 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2100T | Phenom II X4 P960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | S1g4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-2100T and Phenom II X4 P960
