AMD FX-6120 vs AMD Phenom X4 9850B

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-6120 and AMD Phenom X4 9850B processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

AMD FX-6120

AMD Phenom X4 9850B

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-6120

CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 44% higher clock speed: 3.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 42% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1413 vs 992
2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3909 vs 1946

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2012 vs August 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1413 vs 992
PassMark - CPU mark	3909 vs 1946

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X4 9850B

Around 78% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later

L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 288 KB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-6120
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X4 9850B

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1413

992

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3909

1946

Name	AMD FX-6120	AMD Phenom X4 9850B
PassMark - Single thread mark	1413	992
PassMark - CPU mark	3909	1946
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	483
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1798

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-6120	AMD Phenom X4 9850B
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Agena
Launch date	October 2012	August 2008
Place in performance rating	2225	2282
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	315 mm	285 mm
L1 cache	288 KB	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	6144 KB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Transistor count	1200 million	450 million
Unlocked
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)