Amd Phenom Ii X4 955 Vs Ryzen 3 3200g

The AMD Phenom II X4 955 and Ryzen 3 3200G represent two distinct eras of AMD’s CPU lineup. The Phenom II, released in 2008, was a popular choice for budget-minded users, while the Ryzen 3 3200G, launched in 2019, is an entry-level APU designed for budget gaming and multitasking. In this article, we will compare these two processors and determine which one offers the best value for money today.

Architecture and Specifications

The Phenom II X4 955 is based on AMD’s Deneb architecture, which uses a 45nm manufacturing process. It features four cores and four threads, with a base clock speed of 3.2 GHz and a maximum boost clock speed of 3.8 GHz. The processor has 512KB of L2 cache and 4MB of L3 cache.

In contrast, the Ryzen 3 3200G is based on AMD’s Zen+ architecture, which uses a 12nm manufacturing process. It also features four cores and four threads, but with a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a maximum boost clock speed of 4.0 GHz. The processor has 512KB of L2 cache and 4MB of L3 cache.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Ryzen 3 3200G has a significant advantage over the Phenom II X4 955. The Zen+ architecture provides better instructions-per-clock (IPC) performance, and the higher clock speeds and larger cache sizes contribute to a noticeable performance boost.

In single-threaded applications, the Ryzen 3 3200G is approximately 50% faster than the Phenom II X4 955. In multi-threaded applications, the performance gap is even wider, with the Ryzen 3 3200G offering up to twice the performance.

Gaming Performance

For gaming, the Ryzen 3 3200G’s integrated Vega 8 graphics provide a significant advantage over the Phenom II X4 955, which lacks a built-in GPU. The Vega 8 graphics can handle most modern games at low to medium settings, while the Phenom II X4 955 requires a dedicated graphics card for gaming.

Overclocking

Both the Phenom II X4 955 and Ryzen 3 3200G can be overclocked to improve performance. However, the Phenom II X4 955 has a higher overclocking potential due to its older manufacturing process. With proper cooling, it is possible to overclock the Phenom II X4 955 to 4.0 GHz or higher.

In comparison, the Ryzen 3 3200G has a more limited overclocking potential due to its smaller manufacturing process. It is typically possible to overclock the Ryzen 3 3200G to 3.8 GHz or 3.9 GHz.

Power Consumption and Thermal Output

The Ryzen 3 3200G has a lower power consumption and thermal output than the Phenom II X4 955. The Ryzen 3 3200G has a TDP of 65W, while the Phenom II X4 955 has a TDP of 125W. This means that the Ryzen 3 3200G will generate less heat and require a less powerful cooling solution.

Price and Value

The Phenom II X4 955 is no longer in production, but it can still be found for sale on the used market for around $20-$30. The Ryzen 3 3200G is currently available for around $100-$120.

In terms of value, the Ryzen 3 3200G offers a much better price-to-performance ratio than the Phenom II X4 955. The Ryzen 3 3200G provides significantly better performance, has a lower power consumption, and includes integrated graphics.

The Bottom Line

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G is the clear winner in this comparison. It offers significantly better performance, lower power consumption, and comes with integrated graphics. Unless you are on an extremely tight budget, the Ryzen 3 3200G is the better choice for most users.

What You Need to Learn

Q: Is the Phenom II X4 955 still a good CPU today?

A: No, the Phenom II X4 955 is not a good CPU by today’s standards. It is significantly slower than modern processors and lacks many of the features found in newer CPUs.

Q: Is the Ryzen 3 3200G good for gaming?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 3200G is a good budget gaming CPU. Its integrated Vega 8 graphics can handle most modern games at low to medium settings.

Q: Can the Ryzen 3 3200G be overclocked?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 3200G can be overclocked to 3.8 GHz or 3.9 GHz with proper cooling.