AMD FX-4170 vs Intel Core i7-980X

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-4170 and Intel Core i7-980X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-4170

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
  • Around 19% higher clock speed: 4.3 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
  • 2.7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 4% lower typical power consumption: 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • 2.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.845 vs 1.652
Specifications (specs)
Launch date February 2012 vs March 2010
Maximum frequency 4.3 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
L2 cache 4 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.845 vs 1.652

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

  • 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
  • Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 61.10°C
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1526 vs 1469
  • 2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6826 vs 3047
  • Around 19% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 628 vs 529
  • 2.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 1474
  • 4.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 48.42 vs 11.612
  • 2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.512 vs 0.247
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Number of threads 12 vs 4
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C vs 61.10°C
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 192 KB
L3 cache 12288 KB (shared) vs 8 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1526 vs 1469
PassMark - CPU mark 6826 vs 3047
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 628 vs 529
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3462 vs 1474
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 48.42 vs 11.612
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.512 vs 0.247

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-4170
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-980X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1469
1526
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
3047
6826
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
529
628
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1474
3462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.845
1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
11.612
48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.247
0.512
Name AMD FX-4170 Intel Core i7-980X
PassMark - Single thread mark 1469 1526
PassMark - CPU mark 3047 6826
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 529 628
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1474 3462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.845 1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 11.612 48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.247 0.512
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.262

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD FX-4170 Intel Core i7-980X

Essentials

Architecture codename Zambezi Gulftown
Family AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date February 2012 March 2010
OPN PIB FD4170FRGUSBOX
OPN Tray FD4170FRW4KGU
Place in performance rating 2581 2573
Price now $99.99 $218.99
Series AMD FX 4-Core Black Edition Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100) 14.30 11.82
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $959
Processor Number i7-980X
Status Discontinued

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 4.2 GHz 3.33 GHz
Die size 315 mm 239 mm2
L1 cache 192 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 4 MB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8 MB 12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 32 nm
Maximum core temperature 61.10°C 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 4.3 GHz 3.60 GHz
Number of cores 4 6
Number of threads 4 12
P0 Vcore voltage Min: 1.1875 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count 1200 million 1170 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 6.4 GT/s QPI
Number of QPI Links 1
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

Supported memory types Not Listed DDR3 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 AM3+ FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 125 Watt 130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size 42.5mm X 45.0mm

Peripherals

PCI Express revision n / a

Advanced Technologies

Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
Thermal Monitoring

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)