CPU
GPU
Pentium N3520
Phenom II X2 B53
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 N3520 is positioned at rank 1046 and the Phenom II X2 B53 is on rank 1038, so the Phenom II X2 B53 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium N3520
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 B53
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 N3520 and Phenom II X2 B53
Pentium N3520
The Pentium N3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.17 GHz, with boost up to 2.42 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $161.
Phenom II X2 B53
The Phenom II X2 B53 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 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): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,137 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Pentium N3520 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X2 B53 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium N3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.42 GHz on the Pentium N3520 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X2 B53 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 B53 (base: 2.17 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium N3520 uses the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X2 B53 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium N3520 scores 1,144 against the Phenom II X2 B53's 1,137 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium N3520. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Pentium N3520 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 B53.
| Feature | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.42 GHz | 2.8 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.17 GHz | 2.8 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) | Callisto (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,144 | 1,137 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 550 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium N3520 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 B53 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium N3520) / Yes (Phenom II X2 B53).
| Feature | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Pentium N3520 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Phenom II X2 B53 debuted at $150. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Pentium N3520 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium N3520 delivers 114.4 pts/$ vs 75.8 pts/$ for the Phenom II X2 B53 — making the Pentium N3520 the 40.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium N3520 | Phenom II X2 B53 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-33% | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 114.4+51% | 75.8 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2009 |
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