Core i7-920 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE

Core i7-920 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE Performance Spectrum

Core i7-920

4 / 8

2,866

+1.0%

Pentium Dual Core T2370

2,839

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 i7-920 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE 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 i7-920 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-920

2008

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 2W, a 1W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $284 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 X640 BE mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

2011

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-920 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,839 vs 2,866).
❌100% higher power demand at 2W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-920 better than Phenom II X2 X640 BE?

Yes. Core i7-920 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-920 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.8% 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 i7-920 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-920 is the better buy right now. Core i7-920 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $284 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (10.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Phenom II X2 X640 BE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-920 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-920

The Core i7-920 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,866 points. Launch price was $340.

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

The Phenom II X2 X640 BE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,839 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-920 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i7-920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-920 versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X2 X640 BE — a 8.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 X640 BE. The Core i7-920 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-920 scores 2,866 against the Phenom II X2 X640 BE's 2,839 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-920.

Feature	Core i7-920	Phenom II X2 X640 BE
Cores / Threads	4 / 8+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.93 GHz	3.2 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.66 GHz	—
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	2 MB+700%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Bloomfield (2008−2010)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	2,866	2,839

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-920 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.