Pentium G2120T vs Phenom II X3 720
Pentium G2120T
Phenom II X3 720
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 G2120T is positioned at rank 824 and the Phenom II X3 720 is on rank 957, so the Pentium G2120T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2120T
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G2120T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G2120T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+545%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
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 G2120T and Phenom II X3 720
Pentium G2120T
The Pentium G2120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 2.7 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: 1,613 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 G2120T 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 G2120T scores 1,613 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium G2120T. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G2120T vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Pentium G2120T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+4% |
| 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 | 1,613 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G2120T 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 G2120T | 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 | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G2120T) / AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G2120T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G2120T launched at $87 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 720 debuted at $130. At current prices ($10 vs $64), the Pentium G2120T is $54 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G2120T delivers 161.3 pts/$ vs 25.0 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Pentium G2120T the 146.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G2120T | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-33% | $130 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-84% | $64 |
| Performance per Dollar | 161.3+545% | 25.0 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2010 |
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