Core i5-750 vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)

Core i5-750 vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) Performance Spectrum

Core i5-750

4 / 4

2,546

+0.1%

Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)

4 / 4

2,544

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

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 i5-750 vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) 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 i5-750 vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W): Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-750

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 95W instead of 125W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $210 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,544 vs 2,546).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌31.6% higher power demand at 125W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-750.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-750 better than Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-750 pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark. Core i5-750 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-750 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i5-750 is the better buy right now. Core i5-750 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $210 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i5-750 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 4 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 i5-750 vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-750

The Core i5-750 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,546 points. Launch price was $150.

Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)

The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) 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. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 2,544 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-750 and Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-750 versus 3.4 GHz on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-750 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-750 scores 2,546 against the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)'s 2,544 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-750. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i5-750 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W).

Feature	Core i5-750	Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.4 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.66 GHz	3.4 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+33%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Lynnfield (2009−2010)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	2,546	2,544
Geekbench 6 Single	424	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-750 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-750	Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Socket	LGA1156	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-750) / not specified (Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)). Primary use case: Core i5-750 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-750 rivals Phenom II X4 965.