Pentium G2030T
Phenom II X3 720
Pentium G2030T vs Phenom II X3 720 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 G2030T vs Phenom II X3 720 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Pentium G2030T vs Phenom II X3 720: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
Pentium G2030T
2013Why buy it
- ✅Costs $88 less on MSRP ($42 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 208.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.0 vs 12.3 PassMark/$ ($42 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (1,597 vs 1,600).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Phenom II X3 720.
Phenom II X3 720
2010Why buy it
- ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Pentium G2030T.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.3 vs 38.0 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $42 MSRP).
- ❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
Quick Answers
So, is Phenom II X3 720 better than Pentium G2030T?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium G2030T vs Phenom II X3 720 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Pentium G2030T
The Pentium G2030T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,597 points. Launch price was $69.
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 Pentium G2030T packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 720 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 720 has 1 more core. The Phenom II X3 720 is built on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium G2030T scores 1,597 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G2030T vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Pentium G2030T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | — | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | — | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,597 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G2030T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G2030T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G2030T) / AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G2030T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Pentium G2030T was priced at $42, while the Phenom II X3 720 came in at $130. On launch pricing ($42 vs $130), Pentium G2030T was $88 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G2030T delivers 38.0 pts/$ vs 12.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Pentium G2030T the 102.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G2030T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $42-68% | $130 |
| Performance per Dollar | 38.0+209% | 12.3 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2010 |
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