Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Phenom II X3 720 (AMD, 2010) and AMD Athlon II X3 445 (AMD, 2010) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: Phenom II X3 720 is about 23.1% faster
Both use the same AM3 socket, so they can be installed on the same motherboard. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 3,200 | 2,600 |
| Generation | Phenom II | Athlon II |
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2010 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon HD 7850 | GeForce GTX 650 Ti |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Phenom II X3 720 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Either works (same AM3 socket) |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | Athlon II X3 445 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Phenom II X3 720 is about 23.1% higher by score (Phenom II X3 720: 3200 points / Athlon II X3 445: 2600 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
Phenom II X3 720 is Phenom II, while Athlon II X3 445 is Athlon II.Both use the same AM3 socket, so they can be installed on the same motherboard.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon HD 7850 pairs well with Phenom II X3 720 and GeForce GTX 650 Ti pairs well with Athlon II X3 445. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
