Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Phenom II X4 980 (AMD, 2010) and AMD Phenom II X3 720 (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 X4 980 is about 40.6% 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 X4 980 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 4,500 | 3,200 |
| Generation | Phenom II | Phenom II |
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2010 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon RX 6400 | Radeon HD 7850 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Phenom II X4 980 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Either works (same AM3 socket) |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | Phenom II X3 720 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Phenom II X4 980 is about 40.6% higher by score (Phenom II X4 980: 4500 points / Phenom II X3 720: 3200 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.
Both are Phenom II-generation CPUs.Both use the same AM3 socket, so they can be installed on the same motherboard.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon RX 6400 pairs well with Phenom II X4 980 and Radeon HD 7850 pairs well with Phenom II X3 720. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
