Phenom II X3 720 vs Pentium G2120T
Phenom II X3 720
Pentium G2120T
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 Pentium G2120T is on rank 824, 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 Phenom II X3 720
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2120T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+545%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Pentium G2120T
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 720 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G2120T offers 2 cores / 2 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 Phenom II X3 720 scores 1,600 against the Pentium G2120T's 1,613 — a 0.8% lead for the Pentium G2120T. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720 vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G2120T.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | — |
| PassMark | 1,600 | 1,613 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 720 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G2120T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720) / not specified (Pentium G2120T). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X3 720 launched at $130 MSRP, while the Pentium G2120T debuted at $87. At current prices ($64 vs $10), the Pentium G2120T is $54 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X3 720 delivers 25.0 pts/$ vs 161.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G2120T — making the Pentium G2120T the 146.3% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Pentium G2120T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $130 | $87-33% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $64 | $10-84% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.0 | 161.3+545% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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