CPU
GPU
Core i3-3220
Phenom II X4 925
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 i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Phenom II X4 925 is on rank 279, so the Phenom II X4 925 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 925
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ 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 i3-3220 and Phenom II X4 925
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) 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 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Phenom II X4 925
The Phenom II X4 925 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 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: 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: 2,261 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 925 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 925 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 925 — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X4 925 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Phenom II X4 925's 2,261 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-3220. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 925.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,261 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 925 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) / not specified (Phenom II X4 925). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Phenom II X4 925 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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