Pentium G870 vs Phenom II X3 P820

Pentium G870 vs Phenom II X3 P820 Performance Spectrum

Pentium G870

2 / 2

1,562

+0.1%

1,560

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.

Pentium G870 vs Phenom II X3 P820 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 G870 vs Phenom II X3 P820: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium G870

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $86 MSRP, while Phenom II X3 P820 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4233.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 P820

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,560 vs 1,562).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium G870 better than Phenom II X3 P820?

Yes. Pentium G870 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium G870 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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 G870 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium G870 is the better buy right now. Pentium G870 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $86 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium G870 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium G870 vs Phenom II X3 P820 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium G870

The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.

Phenom II X3 P820

The Phenom II X3 P820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Pentium G870 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 P820 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 P820 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 versus 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P820 — a 53.1% clock advantage for the Pentium G870. The Pentium G870 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X3 P820 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G870 scores 1,562 against the Phenom II X3 P820's 1,560 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G870.

Feature	Pentium G870	Phenom II X3 P820
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz+72%	1.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1.5 MB+500%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,562	1,560

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium G870 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X3 P820 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.