Core i3-2125 vs Phenom II X4 830
Core i3-2125
Phenom II X4 830
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 i3-2125 is positioned at rank 892 and the Phenom II X4 830 is on rank 307, so the Phenom II X4 830 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2125
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 830
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2125 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2125 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 i3-2125 and Phenom II X4 830
Core i3-2125
The Core i3-2125 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,082 points. Launch price was $170.
Phenom II X4 830
The Phenom II X4 830 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: 2,072 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2125 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 830 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 830 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2125 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 830 — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-2125 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-2125 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 830 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2125 scores 2,082 against the Phenom II X4 830's 2,072 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-2125. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2125 vs 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 830.
| Feature | Core i3-2125 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,082 | 2,072 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 499 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2125 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 830 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2125 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2125) / not specified (Phenom II X4 830). The Core i3-2125 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X4 830 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2125 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-2125 rivals A8-3850.
| Feature | Core i3-2125 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-2125 and Phenom II X4 830
