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).

AMD FX-4170

Intel Core i7-980X

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: 1527 vs 1464
2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6817 vs 3034
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	1527 vs 1464
PassMark - CPU mark	6817 vs 3034
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

1464

1527

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3034

6817

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	1464	1527
PassMark - CPU mark	3034	6817
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)