AMD A8-3800 vs Intel Core i7-960

Comparative analysis of AMD A8-3800 and Intel Core i7-960 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Virtualization, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

AMD A8-3800

Intel Core i7-960

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD A8-3800

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 8 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 130 Watt

Launch date	June 2011 vs October 2009
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-960

Around 44% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1458 vs 1069
Around 63% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3333 vs 2044
Around 67% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 565 vs 338
Around 86% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2198 vs 1184
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.942 vs 4.305

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1458 vs 1069
PassMark - CPU mark	3333 vs 2044
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	565 vs 338
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2198 vs 1184
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.942 vs 4.305

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD A8-3800
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-960

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1069

1458

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2044

3333

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

338

565

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1184

2198

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.305

4.942

Name	AMD A8-3800	Intel Core i7-960
PassMark - Single thread mark	1069	1458
PassMark - CPU mark	2044	3333
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	338	565
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1184	2198
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.305	4.942
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		1.115
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		59.327
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.374
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.395

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD A8-3800	Intel Core i7-960
Essentials
Architecture codename	Llano	Bloomfield
Launch date	June 2011	October 2009
Place in performance rating	2666	2681
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$316
Price now		$99.99
Processor Number		i7-960
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		17.14
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	228 mm	263 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	2.4 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	1178 million	731 million
Base frequency		3.20 GHz
Bus Speed		4.8 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB)		1333 MHz
L3 cache		8192 KB (shared)
Maximum core temperature		67.9°C
Number of QPI Links		1
Number of threads		8
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 800/1066
Max memory channels		3
Maximum memory bandwidth		25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size		24 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FM1	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		42.5mm x 45.0mm
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring