Phenom II X3 P820 vs Pentium G870
Phenom II X3 P820
Pentium G870
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 Pentium G870 is on rank 836, 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 Pentium G870
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P820 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P820 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 Phenom II X3 P820 and Pentium G870
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 P820 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G870 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 P820 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P820 versus 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 — a 53.1% clock advantage for the Pentium G870. The Phenom II X3 P820 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G870 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 P820 scores 1,560 against the Pentium G870's 1,562 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G870.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P820 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.1 GHz+72% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.1 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 | 1,562 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 P820 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G870 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P820 | Pentium G870 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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