Phenom II X4 820 vs Core i7-3517U
Phenom II X4 820
Core i7-3517U
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 Core i7-3517U is on rank 340, so the Core i7-3517U 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 Core i7-3517U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Core i7-3517U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Core i7-3517U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core i7-3517U
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.
Core i7-3517U
The Core i7-3517U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,108 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 820 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3517U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 820 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-3517U — a 6.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-3517U (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Phenom II X4 820 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-3517U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 820 scores 2,114 against the Core i7-3517U's 2,108 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X4 820. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Core i7-3517U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+47% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,114 | 2,108 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 820 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3517U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Core i7-3517U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 820) / true (Core i7-3517U). The Core i7-3517U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Phenom II X4 820 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-3517U rivals AMD A10-4655M.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Core i7-3517U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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