Core i7-2720QM vs FX-8100

CPU

GPU

Core i7-2720QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2011

FX-8100

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2011

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-2720QM

4 / 8

4,015

0.0%

4,095

+2.0%

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.

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 i7-2720QM is positioned at rank 1062 and the FX-8100 is on rank 928, so the FX-8100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2720QM

#1050

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

2763%

#1051

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

2722%

#1052

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2499%

#1053

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2488%

#1054

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2465%

#1056

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2380%

#1057

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2282%

#1058

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2279%

#1059

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2218%

#1062

Core i7-2720QM

MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A

100%

#1063

Pentium 2020M

MSRP: $134|Avg: N/A

99%

#1064

Celeron P4500

MSRP: $86|Avg: $5

99%

#1065

Pentium Dual Core SU4100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

99%

#1066

Processor N50

MSRP: $128|Avg: $120

98%

#1067

Athlon II N350

MSRP: $100|Avg: $100

98%

#1068

Celeron N3350

MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A

98%

#1070

Core i7-2675QM

MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A

97%

#1071

A9-9410

MSRP: $150|Avg: $25

97%

#1073

A8 Pro-7150B

MSRP: $150|Avg: $20

97%

#1074

A9-9420

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

97%

#1075

Celeron B730

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar FX-8100

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

22836%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

21578%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

15667%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

4720%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

3739%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

3271%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

1873%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

1849%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

1683%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

1683%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

1664%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

1619%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

1597%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

1590%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

1576%

#302

Core i7-6900K

MSRP: $1089|Avg: $1089

99%

#303

Core i7-5960X

MSRP: $999|Avg: $83

98%

#928

FX-8100

MSRP: $300|Avg: $50

100%

#930

Celeron E1400

MSRP: $53|Avg: $63

99%

#932

Pentium E6800

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

98%

#933

Core i3-530

MSRP: $113|Avg: $15

98%

#935

Athlon II X3 405e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

98%

#936

Core i3-2105

MSRP: $138|Avg: $30

98%

#937

Core i3-3225

MSRP: $172|Avg: $167

97%

#938

Athlon II X3 400e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

97%

#939

Athlon II X2 245e

MSRP: $87|Avg: $15

96%

#940

Core i3-3220T

MSRP: $149|Avg: $146

96%

#941

Athlon II X2 240e

MSRP: $77|Avg: $77

96%

#942

Pentium G630T

MSRP: $79|Avg: $15

96%

#943

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition

MSRP: $990|Avg: $175

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i7-2720QM leads in gaming performance. However, the FX-8100 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 2% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i7-2720QM	FX-8100
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($378)	✅ More affordable ($50)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the FX-8100 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 87% cheaper ($50 vs $378) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i7-2720QM	FX-8100
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+671%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($378)	✅ More affordable ($50)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-2720QM Benchmark Check

FX-8100 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-2720QM and FX-8100

Core i7-2720QM

The Core i7-2720QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,015 points. Launch price was $378.

FX-8100

The FX-8100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,095 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-2720QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the FX-8100 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8100 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-2720QM versus 3.7 GHz on the FX-8100 — a 11.4% clock advantage for the FX-8100 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-2720QM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the FX-8100 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2720QM scores 4,015 against the FX-8100's 4,095 — a 2% lead for the FX-8100. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 700 vs 455, a 42.4% lead for the Core i7-2720QM that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,600 vs 1,621 (46.4% advantage for the Core i7-2720QM). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-2720QM vs 8 MB (total) on the FX-8100.

Feature	Core i7-2720QM	FX-8100
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	3.7 GHz+12%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	2.8 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	8 MB+3100%
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Zambezi (2011−2012)
PassMark	4,015	4,095+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	700+54%	455
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,600+60%	1,621

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-2720QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the FX-8100 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i7-2720QM supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-2720QM) vs 0 (FX-8100) — the Core i7-2720QM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67 (Core i7-2720QM) and AMD 990FX,AMD 970 (FX-8100).

Feature	Core i7-2720QM	FX-8100
Socket	PGA988	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the FX-8100 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2720QM) vs AMD-V (FX-8100). The Core i7-2720QM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the FX-8100 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2720QM targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2720QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.