Intel Pentium 2020M Review
| Category | Laptop | ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
|---|---|---|
| Target | entry-level | ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Socket Compatibility | FCPGA988 | ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Integrated Graphics | ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | |
| Cooler Included | Yes | ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Overclock Potential | 0 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Year | 2012 Model | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Price | 134 USD | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Number of Cores | 2 Cores | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Number of Threads | 2 Threads | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Core Frequency | 2.4 GHz | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Boost Frequency | 2.4 GHz | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Max Stable Overclock | 2.4 GHz | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Power Consumption | 35 W | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Manufacturing Process | 22 nm | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Maximum Supported Memory | 32 GB | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ |
| Price-Value Score | 36.3 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Speed Score | 0 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Productivity Score | 0 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Gaming Score | 0 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Max 1080p Bottleneck | 76.7 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Max 1440p Bottleneck | 38.3 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Max 4K Bottleneck | 19.2 % | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Overall Score | 24/100 | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
Take a look at the Pentium 2020M! This Laptop processor from Intel's entry-level range is a real game-changer. Launched in 2012, it boasts 2 cores and 2 threads. With a base clock speed of 2.4GHz, a max speed of 2.4GHz, and a power rating of 35W, it's all set to supercharge your gaming setup. The Pentium 2020M is a proud member of the powerful Ivy Bridge 22nm family and the legendary Pentium series.
And guess what? The Pentium 2020M is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Pentium B970. The Pentium B970 was based on the legendary Sandy Bridge and 32nm process, and it made its grand entrance into the gaming scene back in 2012. But now, it's time for the Pentium 2020M to take the throne and conquer the gaming world!
The Pentium 2020M takes the best parts of the Ivy Bridge architecture, which gives you 15% more instructions processed per cycle (IPC) on average, and shrinks it down to a 22nm process. This creates a super powerful chip that performs awesome in all our tests, especially considering the competitive price, compatibility with most existing FCPGA988 motherboards, ability to overclock, and included cooler. Basically, it's a win-win!
The Intel Pentium 2020M launched on on September 2012 for $134, which is pretty much the same price as the last-generation Pentium B970. At least there's no crazy price hike this generation!
Intel has been struggling lately to keep up with the new A8 processors. This has forced them to get creative with their existing lineup. The Intel Pentium 2020M isn't exactly new - it's basically a Pentium B970 with a higher clock speed. But there's one more twist...
Alright, buying advice time! Before this review, we recommended the A8-4500M because it comes with a better stock cooler, can be overclocked, and the platform allows for easier future upgrades.
We still hold by that recommendation, but we ran some new benchmarks just in case. We focused on gaming performance, which should favor AMD's CPU. For application performance, check out our review of the A8-4500M which also included the Pentium B970. The 2.5% factory overclock on the Pentium 2020M probably only translates to a 1-2% performance boost compared to those benchmarks.
One of the best things about the Intel Pentium 2020M is that it comes with a free CPU cooler! You can grab the Pentium 2020M for $134 without having to spend extra on cooling.
The Intel Pentium 2020M comes with a basic heatsink cooler, nothing fancy. But it gets the job done for this low-power CPU (TDP of 35W). You won't need a fancy aftermarket cooler unless you want to overclock it.
The Intel Pentium 2020M might not get a lot of hype, but it's a solid entry-level option that delivers a good experience for casual users.
Building on the success of mainstream Pentium CPUs, Intel is now attacking the entry-level market with the Pentium 2020M processors, available since on September 2012.
Which GPU to Pick for Intel Pentium 2020M
Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the Intel Pentium 2020M.
| Graphics Card | Price | Cost Per Frame | Avg 1080p | Avg 1440p | Avg 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB | $ 399 | $ 10.6 | 37.5 FPS
|
74.5 FPS
|
57.5 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB | $ 1,099 | $ 16 | 68.7 FPS
|
136.8 FPS
|
103.2 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB | $ 269 | $ 7.2 | 37.2 FPS
|
74 FPS
|
57 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB | $ 899 | $ 11.9 | 75.6 FPS
|
150.5 FPS
|
113.6 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB | $ 999 | $ 12 | 83.2 FPS
|
165.5 FPS
|
125.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB | $ 1,999 | $ 29.6 | 67.6 FPS
|
136.9 FPS
|
113.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB | $ 200 | $ 6.2 | 32.4 FPS
|
64.6 FPS
|
52 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB | $ 299 | $ 8 | 37.2 FPS
|
74.9 FPS
|
60.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB | $ 399 | $ 9.6 | 41.6 FPS
|
83.2 FPS
|
67 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB | $ 599 | $ 9.9 | 60.4 FPS
|
119.4 FPS
|
97.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB | $ 799 | $ 10.4 | 76.8 FPS
|
155.4 FPS
|
128.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB | $ 1,199 | $ 15 | 79.9 FPS
|
161.8 FPS
|
134.3 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB | $ 799 | $ 9.3 | 86 FPS
|
174.3 FPS
|
144.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB | $ 1,599 | $ 17.3 | 92.2 FPS
|
186.8 FPS
|
155 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB | $ 149 | $ 18.9 | 7.9 FPS
|
13.8 FPS
|
10.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB | $ 279 | $ 26.8 | 10.4 FPS
|
20 FPS
|
14.5 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB | $ 249 | $ 23.3 | 10.7 FPS
|
20.5 FPS
|
15.1 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB | $ 1,499 | $ 54.7 | 27.4 FPS
|
52.3 FPS
|
42.8 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB | $ 149 | $ 21.3 | 7 FPS
|
11.8 FPS
|
9.3 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB | $ 999 | $ 54.3 | 18.4 FPS
|
34.7 FPS
|
27.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB | $ 149 | $ 18.9 | 7.9 FPS
|
14.3 FPS
|
11.2 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB | $ 199 | $ 18.8 | 10.6 FPS
|
20.3 FPS
|
15.1 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB | $ 229 | $ 19.2 | 11.9 FPS
|
22.8 FPS
|
17.8 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB | $ 329 | $ 20.4 | 16.1 FPS
|
30.9 FPS
|
22.6 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB | $ 429 | $ 24.9 | 17.2 FPS
|
33.9 FPS
|
26.3 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB | $ 549 | $ 30.7 | 17.9 FPS
|
35.3 FPS
|
27.3 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB | $ 649 | $ 31.2 | 20.8 FPS
|
42 FPS
|
33 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB | $ 649 | $ 34.3 | 18.9 FPS
|
37.5 FPS
|
29.4 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB | $ 159 | $ 19.6 | 8.1 FPS
|
15.2 FPS
|
11.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB | $ 199 | $ 19.5 | 10.2 FPS
|
19.5 FPS
|
14.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB | $ 329 | $ 19.8 | 16.6 FPS
|
31.3 FPS
|
25 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB | $ 549 | $ 28 | 19.6 FPS
|
37.4 FPS
|
28.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB | $ 649 | $ 28.3 | 22.9 FPS
|
44.1 FPS
|
33.8 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB | $ 999 | $ 38 | 26.3 FPS
|
50.4 FPS
|
38.7 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB | $ 140 | $ 19.2 | 7.3 FPS
|
13.7 FPS
|
10.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB | $ 179 | $ 12.6 | 14.2 FPS
|
27.4 FPS
|
20.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB | $ 400 | $ 24.7 | 16.2 FPS
|
31.5 FPS
|
24.8 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB | $ 399 | $ 15.6 | 25.6 FPS
|
50.3 FPS
|
38.5 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB | $ 499 | $ 18.3 | 27.3 FPS
|
53.7 FPS
|
41.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB | $ 79 | $ 14.4 | 5.5 FPS
|
10.4 FPS
|
7.5 FPS
|
| NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB | $ 2,999 | $ 80.6 | 37.2 FPS
|
75.1 FPS
|
60.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB | $ 1,199 | $ 35.6 | 33.7 FPS
|
66.8 FPS
|
53.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB | $ 79 | $ 13.9 | 5.7 FPS
|
10.9 FPS
|
8.2 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB | $ 199 | $ 10.1 | 19.7 FPS
|
37.1 FPS
|
27.7 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB | $ 169 | $ 9.5 | 17.7 FPS
|
33.3 FPS
|
24.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB | $ 99 | $ 12.1 | 8.2 FPS
|
15.5 FPS
|
11.7 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB | $ 279 | $ 9.8 | 28.4 FPS
|
55.4 FPS
|
42.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB | $ 169 | $ 10.6 | 15.9 FPS
|
30.5 FPS
|
22.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB | $ 349 | $ 11.6 | 30.1 FPS
|
59.2 FPS
|
45.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB | $ 399 | $ 12.1 | 32.9 FPS
|
64.6 FPS
|
49.6 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB | $ 229 | $ 11.9 | 19.2 FPS
|
36.1 FPS
|
26.9 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB | $ 279 | $ 12.9 | 21.7 FPS
|
40.8 FPS
|
30.6 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB | $ 169 | $ 19 | 8.9 FPS
|
16.9 FPS
|
12.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB | $ 169 | $ 16.1 | 10.5 FPS
|
20.1 FPS
|
15.4 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB | $ 254 | $ 14.3 | 17.8 FPS
|
33.8 FPS
|
25.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB | $ 170 | $ 10.1 | 16.9 FPS
|
32.2 FPS
|
24.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB | $ 399 | $ 16 | 24.9 FPS
|
47.9 FPS
|
36.4 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB | $ 409 | $ 15.1 | 27.1 FPS
|
52.4 FPS
|
40.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB | $ 499 | $ 17.1 | 29.2 FPS
|
56.6 FPS
|
43.5 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB | $ 759 | $ 22.1 | 34.4 FPS
|
69.2 FPS
|
54.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB | $ 149 | $ 9.8 | 15.2 FPS
|
29.1 FPS
|
22.3 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB | $ 160 | $ 8 | 19.9 FPS
|
38.5 FPS
|
29.4 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB | $ 220 | $ 9.6 | 22.9 FPS
|
44.3 FPS
|
33.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB | $ 229 | $ 9.4 | 24.3 FPS
|
47.1 FPS
|
36.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB | $ 279 | $ 10.8 | 25.8 FPS
|
49.9 FPS
|
38.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB | $ 350 | $ 12.1 | 28.9 FPS
|
53.5 FPS
|
40.8 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB | $ 400 | $ 13 | 30.7 FPS
|
58.1 FPS
|
45.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB | $ 499 | $ 15.4 | 32.4 FPS
|
62.5 FPS
|
49.4 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB | $ 499 | $ 14.6 | 34.2 FPS
|
66.8 FPS
|
52.2 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB | $ 699 | $ 19 | 36.7 FPS
|
72.6 FPS
|
56.3 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB | $ 699 | $ 18 | 38.8 FPS
|
77.6 FPS
|
60.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB | $ 1,299 | $ 30.4 | 42.8 FPS
|
86.4 FPS
|
67.9 FPS
|
| NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB | $ 2,499 | $ 56.8 | 44 FPS
|
88.7 FPS
|
69.8 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon VII 16GB | $ 699 | $ 20.7 | 33.7 FPS
|
66.4 FPS
|
51 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB | $ 379 | $ 10.8 | 35.2 FPS
|
69.6 FPS
|
53.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB | $ 479 | $ 11.3 | 42.3 FPS
|
83.6 FPS
|
63.4 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB | $ 579 | $ 11.5 | 50.2 FPS
|
98.7 FPS
|
75.8 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB | $ 649 | $ 10.2 | 63.4 FPS
|
124.6 FPS
|
95.7 FPS
|
| AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB | $ 999 | $ 14.8 | 67.3 FPS
|
132.3 FPS
|
101.6 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB | $ 249 | $ 9.4 | 26.5 FPS
|
50.9 FPS
|
39.8 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | $ 329 | $ 10.2 | 32.2 FPS
|
63.1 FPS
|
49.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB | $ 399 | $ 10.2 | 39.2 FPS
|
78.7 FPS
|
62.7 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB | $ 499 | $ 10.4 | 47.9 FPS
|
93.6 FPS
|
73.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB | $ 599 | $ 11.2 | 53.7 FPS
|
105.8 FPS
|
84.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB | $ 699 | $ 11.2 | 62.6 FPS
|
122.3 FPS
|
95.5 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB | $ 799 | $ 12.8 | 62.6 FPS
|
124.8 FPS
|
101.1 FPS
|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB | $ 1,499 | $ 20.9 | 71.8 FPS
|
140.3 FPS
|
109.6 FPS
|
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