AMD A8-3820 vs Intel Core i7-980

Comparative analysis of AMD A8-3820 and Intel Core i7-980 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, GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), 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).

AMD A8-3820

Intel Core i7-980

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD A8-3820

CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
Around 33% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.7x 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	December 2011 vs June 2011
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 i7-980

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 44% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1541 vs 1130
3.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6873 vs 2180

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1541 vs 1130
PassMark - CPU mark	6873 vs 2180

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD A8-3820
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-980

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1130

1541

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2180

6873

Name	AMD A8-3820	Intel Core i7-980
PassMark - Single thread mark	1130	1541
PassMark - CPU mark	2180	6873
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1647
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4806
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	893
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	893
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		18.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		111.484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.821
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		3.445
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		19.686

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD A8-3820	Intel Core i7-980
Essentials
Architecture codename	Llano	Gulftown
Launch date	December 2011	June 2011
Place in performance rating	1854	1846
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,109
Price now		$198.99
Processor Number		i7-980
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		12.83
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	228 mm	239 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	32 nm
Maximum frequency	2.5 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Transistor count	1178 million	1170 million
Base frequency		3.33 GHz
Bus Speed		4.8 GT/s QPI
L3 cache		12288 KB (shared)
Maximum core temperature		68.8°C
Number of QPI Links		1
Number of threads		12
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.300V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066
Max memory channels		3
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		45mm x 42.5mm
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
Thermal Monitoring