AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE vs Intel Atom 230

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE and Intel Atom 230 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE

Intel Atom 230

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE

CPU is newer: launch date 11 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 3 vs 1
Around 75% higher clock speed: 2.8 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
6x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

Launch date	February 2009 vs 1 March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	3 vs 1
Maximum frequency	2.8 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 512 KB

Reasons to consider the Intel Atom 230

23.8x lower typical power consumption: 4 Watt vs 95 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	4 Watt vs 95 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE
CPU 2: Intel Atom 230

Name	AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE	Intel Atom 230
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.161
PassMark - Single thread mark		185
PassMark - CPU mark		169
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		436
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		552

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE	Intel Atom 230
Essentials
Architecture codename	Heka	Diamondville
Launch date	February 2009	1 March 2008
Place in performance rating	3211	3219
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		230
Series		Legacy Intel Atom® Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	258 mm	26 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	2.8 GHz	1.6 GHz
Number of cores	3	1
Transistor count	758 million	47 million
Unlocked
Base frequency		1.60 GHz
Bus Speed		533 MHz FSB
Front-side bus (FSB)		533 MHz
Maximum core temperature		85.2°C
Number of threads		2
VID voltage range		0.9V-1.1625V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	PBGA437
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	4 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		22mm x 22mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE2, Intel® SSE3, Intel® SSSE3
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)