AMD A6-6400K vs Intel Core i7-3970X

Comparative analysis of AMD A6-6400K and Intel Core i7-3970X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

AMD A6-6400K

Intel Core i7-3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD A6-6400K

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
Around 2% higher clock speed: 4.1 GHz vs 4.00 GHz
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 70°C vs 66.8°C
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 150 Watt
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 9.883 vs 4.518

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 June 2013 vs November 2012
Maximum frequency	4.1 GHz vs 4.00 GHz
Maximum core temperature	70°C vs 66.8°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 150 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	9.883 vs 4.518

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
10 more threads: 12 vs 2
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 28% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1849 vs 1444
5.7x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8516 vs 1504
Around 65% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 792 vs 479
6.4x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4715 vs 737
10.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.513 vs 2.027
6.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.951 vs 3.797
8.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.954 vs 0.109
4.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.433 vs 1.666

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	12 vs 2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 96 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1849 vs 1444
PassMark - CPU mark	8516 vs 1504
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	792 vs 479
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4715 vs 737
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.513 vs 2.027
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.951 vs 3.797
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.954 vs 0.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.433 vs 1.666

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD A6-6400K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3970X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1444

1849

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1504

8516

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

479

792

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

737

4715

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.027

21.513

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.797

24.951

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.109

0.954

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.883

4.518

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.666

7.433

Name	AMD A6-6400K	Intel Core i7-3970X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1444	1849
PassMark - CPU mark	1504	8516
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	479	792
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	737	4715
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.027	21.513
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	3.797	24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.109	0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	9.883	4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.666	7.433
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	643
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1741
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	3943
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	643
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1741
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	3943
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD A6-6400K	Intel Core i7-3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Richland	Sandy Bridge E
Family	AMD A-Series Processors
Launch date	4 June 2013	November 2012
OPN PIB	AD640KOKHLBOX
OPN Tray	AD640KOKA23HL
Place in performance rating	2061	2038
Series	AMD A6-Series APU for Desktops	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$593
Price now		$909.99
Processor Number		i7-3970X
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		4.10
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.9 GHz	3.50 GHz
Die size	246 mm	435 mm
L1 cache	96 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	256 KB (per core)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm SOI	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	70 °C	70 °C
Maximum core temperature	70°C	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	4.1 GHz	4.00 GHz
Number of cores	2	6
Number of threads	2	12
Transistor count	1303 Million	2270 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI2
L3 cache		15360 KB (shared)
VID voltage range		0.6V-1.35V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Supported memory frequency	1866 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Maximum memory bandwidth		51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size		64.45 GB
Graphics
Enduro
Graphics max frequency	800 MHz
iGPU core count	192
Number of pipelines	192
Processor graphics	AMD Radeon HD 8470D
Switchable graphics
Unified Video Decoder (UVD)
Video Codec Engine (VCE)
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
HDMI
Graphics API support
DirectX	11
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FM2	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	150 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		52.5mm x 45.0mm
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
Advanced Technologies
AMD App Acceleration
AMD Elite Experiences
AMD HD3D technology
Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Fused Multiply-Add 4 (FMA4)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
PowerGating
PowerNow
VirusProtect
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
IOMMU 2.0
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)