AMD A8-6500 vs Intel Core i7-3960X

Comparative analysis of AMD A8-6500 and Intel Core i7-3960X 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.

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD A8-6500

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
  • Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.1 GHz vs 3.90 GHz
  • Around 7% higher maximum core temperature: 71.30°C vs 66.8°C
  • 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 June 2013 vs November 2011
Maximum frequency 4.1 GHz vs 3.90 GHz
Maximum core temperature 71.30°C vs 66.8°C
L2 cache 4 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
  • 8 more threads: 12 vs 4
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 22% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1800 vs 1473
  • 3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 vs 2821
  • Around 68% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 490
  • 3.8x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 1304
  • Around 62% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 6.358 vs 3.921
  • 3.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 27.376 vs 8.804
  • 4.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.727 vs 0.167
  • 5.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.924 vs 0.55
  • 2.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.797 vs 2.751
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Number of threads 12 vs 4
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 192 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1800 vs 1473
PassMark - CPU mark 8446 vs 2821
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 821 vs 490
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4933 vs 1304
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 6.358 vs 3.921
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 27.376 vs 8.804
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.727 vs 0.167
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.924 vs 0.55
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.797 vs 2.751

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD A8-6500
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1473
1800
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2821
8446
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
490
821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1304
4933
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.921
6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
8.804
27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.167
0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.55
2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.751
7.797
Name AMD A8-6500 Intel Core i7-3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark 1473 1800
PassMark - CPU mark 2821 8446
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 490 821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1304 4933
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.921 6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 8.804 27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.167 0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.55 2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.751 7.797
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames) 867
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames) 2306
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 3341
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps) 867
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps) 2306
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 3341
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 5484

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD A8-6500 Intel Core i7-3960X

Essentials

Architecture codename Richland Sandy Bridge E
Family AMD A-Series Processors
Launch date June 2013 November 2011
OPN PIB AD6500OKHLBOX
OPN Tray AD6500OKA44HL
Place in performance rating 2062 2065
Series AMD A8-Series APU for Desktops Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $861
Price now $799.99
Processor Number i7-3960X
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 4.64

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.5 GHz 3.30 GHz
Die size 246 mm 435 mm
L1 cache 192 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 4 MB 256 KB (per core)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm SOI 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 71 °C 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 71.30°C 66.8°C
Maximum frequency 4.1 GHz 3.90 GHz
Number of cores 4 6
Number of threads 4 12
Transistor count 1178 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 GB

Graphics

Enduro
Graphics max frequency 800 MHz
iGPU core count 256
Number of pipelines 256
Processor graphics AMD Radeon HD 8570D
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 130 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)