Pentium D 820 vs Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Pentium D 820
Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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 Pentium D 820 is positioned at rank 1065 and the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is on rank 988, so the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 820
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+108%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium D 820 and Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Pentium D 820
The Pentium D 820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,412 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon 64 X2 5000+
The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium D 820 and Athlon 64 X2 5000+ share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium D 820 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Pentium D 820. The Pentium D 820 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 820 scores 1,412 against the Athlon 64 X2 5000+'s 1,425 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5000+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 90 nm | 90 nm |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,412 | 1,425 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 166 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium D 820 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-667 memory speed. The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 945,Intel 955 (Pentium D 820) and AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 5000+).
| Feature | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: No (Pentium D 820) / not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5000+).
| Feature | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | No | — |
Value Analysis
The Pentium D 820 launched at $241 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ debuted at $136. At current prices ($20 vs $42), the Pentium D 820 is $22 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium D 820 delivers 70.6 pts/$ vs 33.9 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ — making the Pentium D 820 the 70.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium D 820 | Athlon 64 X2 5000+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $241 | $136-44% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-52% | $42 |
| Performance per Dollar | 70.6+108% | 33.9 |
| Release Date | 2005 | 2006 |
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