Core i7-9700K vs Phenom II X3 720

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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Phenom II X3 720

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

+799.8%

1,600

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +625.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 203.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Phenom II X3 720 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
196.2% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$130 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Phenom II X3 720.

Phenom II X3 720

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $255 less on MSRP ($130 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core i7-9700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,600 vs 14,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Phenom II X3 720

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +625.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 203.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Phenom II X3 720 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $255 less on MSRP ($130 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core i7-9700K.

Trade-offs

❌
196.2% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$130 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Phenom II X3 720.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,600 vs 14,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.3 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Phenom II X3 720?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 625.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 799.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-9700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 625.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-9700K is the better fit. You are getting 799.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i7-9700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-9700K is 196.2% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $130 MSRP, and it gives you a 625.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 203.8% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i7-9700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2010), 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Phenom II X3 720 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	308 FPS	40 FPS
medium	278 FPS	40 FPS
high	231 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	40 FPS
medium	221 FPS	40 FPS
high	178 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	40 FPS
medium	140 FPS	40 FPS
high	108 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	31 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Phenom II X3 720

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	321 FPS	40 FPS
high	291 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	40 FPS
medium	282 FPS	40 FPS
high	258 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	40 FPS
medium	221 FPS	40 FPS
high	208 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	27 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Phenom II X3 720

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Phenom II X3 720

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	40 FPS
medium	360 FPS	40 FPS
high	360 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Phenom II X3 720

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Phenom II X3 720

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Phenom II X3 720

The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 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): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Phenom II X3 720 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 160% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+167%	3 / 3
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+75%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+29%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+100%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	14,397+800%	1,600
Geekbench 6 Single	—	380
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	980

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X3 720 — the Core i7-9700K supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-9700K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
Socket	LGA1151	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+700%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Phenom II X3 720 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop, Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Phenom II X3 720
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Legacy Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 720 debuted at $130. On MSRP ($385 vs $130), the Phenom II X3 720 is $255 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 12.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Core i7-9700K the 100.9% better value option.