Pentium D 820 vs Phenom II X4 P920

Intel

Pentium D 820

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2005
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Phenom II X4 P920

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Pentium D 820 vs Phenom II X4 P920 Performance Spectrum

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.

Pentium D 820 vs Phenom II X4 P920 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.

Pentium D 820 vs Phenom II X4 P920: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium D 820

2005

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Launch MSRP is still $241 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 P920 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

    Phenom II X4 P920

    2010

    Why buy it

      Trade-offs

      • Lower PassMark (1,395 vs 1,412).

      Quick Answers

      So, is Pentium D 820 better than Phenom II X4 P920?
      Yes. Pentium D 820 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
      Which one is better for gaming?
      If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 820 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% 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, Pentium D 820 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
      Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
      Pentium D 820 is the better buy right now. Pentium D 820 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $241 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (5.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 X4 P920 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2005). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

      Pentium D 820 vs Phenom II X4 P920 Technical Specifications

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

      Intel

      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.

      AMD

      Phenom II X4 P920

      The Phenom II X4 P920 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $149.

      Processing Power

      The Pentium D 820 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 P920 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 P920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium D 820 versus 1.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P920 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Pentium D 820. The Pentium D 820 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Phenom II X4 P920 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 820 scores 1,412 against the Phenom II X4 P920's 1,395 — a 1.2% lead for the Pentium D 820.

      FeaturePentium D 820Phenom II X4 P920
      Cores / Threads
      2 / 2
      4 / 4+100%
      Boost Clock
      2.8 GHz+75%
      1.6 GHz
      Base Clock
      2.8 GHz
      L3 Cache
      0 kB
      L2 Cache
      2 MB
      2 MB
      Process
      90 nm
      45 nm-50%
      Architecture
      NetBurst (2000−2006)
      Champlain (2010−2011)
      PassMark
      1,412+1%
      1,395
      Geekbench 6 Single
      166
      🧠

      Memory & Platform

      The Pentium D 820 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 P920 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

      FeaturePentium D 820Phenom II X4 P920
      Socket
      LGA775
      S1g4
      PCIe Generation
      PCIe 1.1
      PCIe 2.0+82%
      Max RAM Speed
      DDR2-667
      Max RAM Capacity
      4 GB
      RAM Channels
      2
      ECC Support
      No
      PCIe Lanes
      0
      🔧

      Advanced Features

      Virtualization: No (Pentium D 820) / not specified (Phenom II X4 P920).

      FeaturePentium D 820Phenom II X4 P920
      Integrated GPU
      No
      AVX-512
      No
      Virtualization
      No