CPU
GPU
Phenom II X4 P960
Celeron N4020C
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 P960 is positioned at rank 431 and the Celeron N4020C is on rank 575, so the Phenom II X4 P960 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 P960
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4020C
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 P960 | Celeron N4020C |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 P960 | Celeron N4020C |
|---|---|---|
| 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 P960 and Celeron N4020C
Phenom II X4 P960
The Phenom II X4 P960 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: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,542 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron N4020C
The Celeron N4020C is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4/LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 1,537 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 P960 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N4020C offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X4 P960 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P960 versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron N4020C — a 43.5% clock advantage for the Celeron N4020C. The Phenom II X4 P960 is built on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 P960 scores 1,542 against the Celeron N4020C's 1,537 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X4 P960.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 P960 | Celeron N4020C |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz+56% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 1,542 | 1,537 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 P960 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N4020C uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 P960 | Celeron N4020C |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | FCBGA1090 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
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 P960 and Celeron N4020C
