Phenom II X4 N970 vs Core i3-560
Phenom II X4 N970
Core i3-560
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 N970 is positioned at rank 388 and the Core i3-560 is on rank 964, so the Phenom II X4 N970 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 N970
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-560
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-560 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-560 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 N970 and Core i3-560
Phenom II X4 N970
The Phenom II X4 N970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-560
The Core i3-560 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 0.33 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,642 points. Launch price was $190.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 N970 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-560 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N970 versus 0.33 GHz on the Core i3-560 — a 147.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 N970. The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-560 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 N970 scores 1,647 against the Core i3-560's 1,642 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X4 N970.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-560 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+567% | 0.33 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 3.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,647 | 1,642 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-560 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-560 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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 N970 and Core i3-560
