Phenom II X4 820 vs Celeron M 900
Phenom II X4 820
Celeron M 900
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 Celeron M 900 is on rank 797, so the Celeron M 900 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 Celeron M 900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+397%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 X4 820 and Celeron M 900
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.
Celeron M 900
The Celeron M 900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,101 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 820 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron M 900 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Phenom II X4 820 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron M 900 — a 24% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 820. The Phenom II X4 820 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron M 900 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 820 scores 2,114 against the Celeron M 900's 2,101 — a 0.6% lead for the Phenom II X4 820.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+300% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+27% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,114 | 2,101 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 820 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron M 900 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X4 820 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Celeron M 900 debuted at $86. At current prices ($50 vs $10), the Celeron M 900 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X4 820 delivers 42.3 pts/$ vs 210.1 pts/$ for the Celeron M 900 — making the Celeron M 900 the 133% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $86-43% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $10-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.3 | 210.1+397% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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