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.

AMD A8-6500

Intel Core i7-3960X

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: 1801 vs 1473
3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8460 vs 2824
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	1801 vs 1473
PassMark - CPU mark	8460 vs 2824
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

1801

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2824

8460

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	1801
PassMark - CPU mark	2824	8460
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)