CPU
GPU
Phenom II X4 820
Athlon II X4 631
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 X4 820 is positioned at rank 916 and the Athlon II X4 631 is on rank 651, so the Athlon II X4 631 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 X4 820
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 631
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+234%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($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 X4 820 and Athlon II X4 631
Phenom II X4 820
The Phenom II X4 820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,114 points. Launch price was $90.
Athlon II X4 631
The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X4 820 and Athlon II X4 631 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 820 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Phenom II X4 820 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 631 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 820 scores 2,114 against the Athlon II X4 631's 2,118 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 820 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,114 | 2,118 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 820 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 631 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X4 820 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 631 debuted at $80. At current prices ($50 vs $15), the Athlon II X4 631 is $35 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X4 820 delivers 42.3 pts/$ vs 141.2 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 631 — making the Athlon II X4 631 the 107.8% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $80-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $15-70% |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.3 | 141.2+234% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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