Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz vs AMD Phenom 9850
The AMD Phenom 9850 is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 100%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz | AMD Phenom 9850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 3/100 | 6/100 |
| Tier | F | F |
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Cores | 1 | 4 |
| Threads | 2 | 4 |
| Base clock | 3 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 84 W | 125 W |
| Release year | 2004 | 2008 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the AMD Phenom 9850 is the better buy — it holds a 100% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The AMD Phenom 9850 has more cores (4 vs 1), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz runs 41W cooler, meaning a cheaper cooler and less case heat. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.