Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) vs Core i3-7020U
Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Core i3-7020U
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 965 BE (125W) is positioned at rank 240 and the Core i3-7020U is on rank 70, so the Core i3-7020U 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 965 BE (125W)
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7020U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) | Core i3-7020U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) | Core i3-7020U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 965 BE (125W) and Core i3-7020U
Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,544 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-7020U
The Core i3-7020U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,567 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7020U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) versus 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-7020U — a 38.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-7020U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) scores 2,544 against the Core i3-7020U's 2,567 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-7020U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7020U.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) | Core i3-7020U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+48% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+48% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,544 | 2,567 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-7020U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) | Core i3-7020U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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