Phenom II X3 720 vs Celeron G1820T
Phenom II X3 720
Celeron G1820T
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 Phenom II X3 720 is positioned at rank 957 and the Celeron G1820T is on rank 500, so the Celeron G1820T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1820T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Celeron G1820T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Celeron G1820T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Phenom II X3 720 and Celeron G1820T
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.
Celeron G1820T
The Celeron G1820T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,599 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 720 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron G1820T offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 720 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G1820T — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Phenom II X3 720 uses the Heka (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G1820T uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 720 scores 1,600 against the Celeron G1820T's 1,599 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 380 vs 415, a 8.8% lead for the Celeron G1820T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 980 vs 629 (43.6% advantage for the Phenom II X3 720). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720 vs 3 MB (total) on the Celeron G1820T.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Celeron G1820T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,600 | 1,599 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | 415+9% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980+56% | 629 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 720 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1820T uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Celeron G1820T supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1820T).
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Celeron G1820T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Phenom II X3 720 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720) vs VT-x (Celeron G1820T). The Celeron G1820T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Phenom II X3 720 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop, Celeron G1820T targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G1820T rivals Pentium G3220T.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Celeron G1820T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
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