Core i3-8130U vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

Core i3-8130U vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition Performance Spectrum

Core i3-8130U

2 / 4

3,521

+0.9%

Core i7-3689Y

Celeron G3920

Celeron Dual-Core T1400

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

4 / 4

3,489

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-8130U vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-8130U vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-8130U

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 15W instead of 125W, a 110W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 620, while Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

2009

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-8130U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,489 vs 3,521).
❌733.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8130U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-8130U better than Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition?

Yes. Core i3-8130U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-8130U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-8130U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-8130U still makes the most sense overall. Core i3-8130U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-8130U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-8130U vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-8130U

The Core i3-8130U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,521 points. Launch price was $281.

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 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: 3,489 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-8130U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-8130U versus 2 GHz on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-8130U. The Core i3-8130U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8130U scores 3,521 against the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition's 3,489 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-8130U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8130U vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition.

Feature	Core i3-8130U	Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+70%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	—
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	6 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	3,521	3,489
Geekbench 6 Single	1,050	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8130U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-8130U	Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Socket	BGA1356	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	12	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8130U) / not specified (Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition). The Core i3-8130U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8130U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8130U rivals Ryzen 3 2200U.