CPU
GPU
Core i3-5020U
Phenom II X4 920
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 i3-5020U is positioned at rank 598 and the Phenom II X4 920 is on rank 289, so the Phenom II X4 920 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5020U
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 920
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5020U | Phenom II X4 920 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5020U | Phenom II X4 920 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-5020U and Phenom II X4 920
Core i3-5020U
The Core i3-5020U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,232 points. Launch price was $281.
Phenom II X4 920
The Phenom II X4 920 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 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): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,202 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5020U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 920 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-5020U versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 920 — a 24% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 920 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-5020U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X4 920 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5020U scores 2,232 against the Phenom II X4 920's 2,202 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i3-5020U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5020U vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 920.
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Phenom II X4 920 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,232+1% | 2,202 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5020U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 920 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Phenom II X4 920 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5020U) / not specified (Phenom II X4 920). The Core i3-5020U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 5500), while the Phenom II X4 920 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5020U targets Mainstream Laptop.
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Phenom II X4 920 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 5500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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