Phenom II X3 P820 vs Core i3-2120T
Phenom II X3 P820
Core i3-2120T
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 P820 is positioned at rank 419 and the Core i3-2120T is on rank 956, so the Phenom II X3 P820 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 P820
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P820 | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P820 | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) |
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 P820 and Core i3-2120T
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.
Core i3-2120T
The Core i3-2120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,570 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 P820 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2120T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X3 P820 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P820 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-2120T — a 36.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120T. The Phenom II X3 P820 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2120T uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 P820 scores 1,560 against the Core i3-2120T's 1,570 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-2120T.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P820 | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.6 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,560 | 1,570 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 403 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 P820 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2120T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P820 | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 P820) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2120T). The Core i3-2120T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Phenom II X3 P820 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2120T targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-2120T rivals A6-3500.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P820 | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
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