Phenom II X4 820 vs Ryzen 5 5600
Phenom II X4 820
Ryzen 5 5600
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. The Phenom II X4 820 is positioned at rank #916 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 820
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (2020−2025) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+343%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) |
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 Ryzen 5 5600
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.
Ryzen 5 5600
The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 820 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Phenom II X4 820 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 820 scores 2,114 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 164.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 820 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz+57% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+700% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Vermeer (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,114 | 21,550+919% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 11,077 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,052 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 820 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 820) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X4 820 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($50 vs $115), the Phenom II X4 820 is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X4 820 delivers 42.3 pts/$ vs 187.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 126.4% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 820 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-25% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-57% | $115 |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.3 | 187.4+343% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2022 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Phenom II X4 820 and Ryzen 5 5600
