AMD Phenom II X3 720
AMD Phenom II X2 521
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AMD Phenom II X3 720 vs AMD Phenom II X2 521. Specifications, performance, tests

Overall score
star star star star star
Released
Q1/2009
AMD Phenom II X3 720
AMD Phenom II X3 720
Released
Q2/2011
Overall score
star star star star star
AMD Phenom II X2 521
AMD Phenom II X2 521

What's the best choice AMD Phenom II X3 720 or AMD Phenom II X2 521? Which processor is faster?

We have prepared a comparison to help you choose the best processor. Compare their specifications and benchmarks.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 has a maximum frequency of 2.80 GHz. 3 Cores. Power consumption of 95 W. Released in Q1/2009.

AMD Phenom II X2 521 has a maximum frequency of 3.50 GHz. 2 Cores. Power consumption of 65 W. Released in Q2/2011.

Differences

  • Place in the overall ranking

    (based on several benchmarks)

    1403 left arrow score
  • More number of cores

    1 times more cores

    3 left arrow 2

Positions in all rankings

Common positions AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

  • Cinebench R20 (Single-Core)
    562 place
  • Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core)
    493 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
    926 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
    882 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    1264 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    1321 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)
    736 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    700 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    622 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    629 place
  • Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
    1101 place
  • Place in the overall ranking

    (based on several benchmarks)

    1256 left arrow score
  • Higher clock speed

    Around 20% better clock speed

    3.50 GHz left arrow 2.80 GHz
  • Performance per watt

    About 0.68 times less performance per watt

    65 W left arrow 95 W

Positions in all rankings

Common positions AMD Phenom II X2 521 CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

  • Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
    839 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
    924 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)
    655 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    735 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    125 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    643 place
  • Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
    1177 place

Specifications

Technical data
AMD Phenom II X3 720 AMD Phenom II X3 720
AMD Phenom II X2 521 AMD Phenom II X2 521
CPU family and group

Background information about the processors being compared, series, generation and market segment.

  • Segment
    Desktop / Server left arrow Desktop / Server
  • Family
    AMD Phenom II left arrow AMD Phenom II
  • Generation
    3 left arrow 1
  • CPU group
    AMD Phenom II - 700 left arrow AMD Phenom II - 500
CPU Technical specs

Basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base and turbo frequency, and cache size. These parameters indirectly tell about the speed of the processor, the higher they are the better.

  • Frequency
    2.80 GHz left arrow 3.50 GHz
  • CPU Cores
    3 left arrow 2
  • Turbo (1 Core)
    No turbo left arrow No turbo
  • CPU Threads
    3 left arrow 2
  • Hyperthreading
    No left arrow No
  • Overclocking
    Yes left arrow Yes
  • Core architecture
    normal left arrow normal
IGPU

Internal Graphics does not affect the performance of the CPU, performs the work of the graphics card in its absence or on mobile devices.

  • GPU name
    no iGPU left arrow no iGPU
  • GPU (Turbo)
    No turbo left arrow No turbo
Hardware codec support

Built-in codecs used to encode and decode content. Significantly speeds up the required operations.

  • h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
    No left arrow No
  • h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
    No left arrow No
  • h264
    No left arrow No
  • VP9
    No left arrow No
  • VP8
    No left arrow No
  • AV1
    No left arrow No
  • AVC
    No left arrow No
  • VC-1
    No left arrow No
  • JPEG
    No left arrow No
Memory specs & PCI

Types, channel quantity of RAM supported by AMD Phenom II X2 521 and AMD Phenom II X3 720. Depending on the motherboards, higher or lower memory frequencies may be supported.

  • Memory type
    DDR2-1066 left arrow DDR2-1066
  • ECC
    No left arrow No
  • Memory channels
    2 left arrow 2
Encryption
  • AES-NI
    No left arrow No
Thermal Management

Compare the TDP requirements of TDP AMD Phenom II X3 720 and AMD Phenom II X2 521 to select a cooling system. Note, the TDP value refers to thermal watts, not electrical watts.

  • TDP (PL1)
    95 W left arrow 65 W
Technologies and extensions

Architecture, interfaces, additional instructions supported by AMD Phenom II X3 720 and AMD Phenom II X3 720, virtual machine technologies and process technology.

  • Instruction set (ISA)
    x86-64 (64 bit) left arrow x86-64 (64 bit)
  • Virtualization
    AMD-V left arrow AMD-V
  • ISA extensions
    SSE3, SSE4a left arrow SSE3, SSE4a
  • L3-Cache
    6.00 MB left arrow 2.00 MB
  • Architecture
    Heka (K10) left arrow Regor (K10)
  • Technology
    45 nm left arrow 45 nm
  • Socket
    AM3 left arrow AM3
  • Release date
    Q1/2009 left arrow Q2/2011

Benchmarks

Performance tests CPUs

Based on the results of several benchmarks, you can more accurately estimate the difference in performance between AMD Phenom II X3 720 and AMD Phenom II X2 521.

Compare the synthetic test values and choose the best processor!

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
The Cinebench R15 SC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware
74
AMD Phenom II X3 720
92
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
The Cinebench R15 MC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware
213
AMD Phenom II X3 720
177
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)
Geekbench 3 SC for one CPU core, includes stress tests simulating real 3D scenarios for Windows, Mac, Linux, Ansroid, iOS
1518
AMD Phenom II X3 720
1888
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)
Geekbench 3 MC using a multi-core and hyperthreading, includes stress tests simulating real 3D scenarios for Windows, Mac, Linux, Ansroid, iOS
3954
AMD Phenom II X3 720
3480
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)
The PC CPU and GPU test involves rendering a specific 3D scene in single-core mode, based on CINEMA 4D
0.85
AMD Phenom II X3 720
1.06
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
The PC CPU and GPU test involves rendering a specific 3D scene in multi-core mode and hyperthreading, based on CINEMA 4D
2.5
AMD Phenom II X3 720
2.08
AMD Phenom II X2 521
Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
PassMark is a test suite that performs complex mathematical calculations to determine CPU performance on file compression, encryption and physics-related tasks
2811
AMD Phenom II X3 720
2253
AMD Phenom II X2 521

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