AMD FX-6120 vs Intel Core i7-3820

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-6120 and Intel Core i7-3820 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Peripherals, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

AMD FX-6120

Intel Core i7-3820

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-6120

CPU is newer: launch date 8 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 13% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Launch date	October 2012 vs February 2012
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 4
L1 cache	288 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3820

Around 6% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 23% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1744 vs 1413
Around 48% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5779 vs 3909
Around 57% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 756 vs 483
Around 76% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3163 vs 1798

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1744 vs 1413
PassMark - CPU mark	5779 vs 3909
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	756 vs 483
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3163 vs 1798

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-6120
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3820

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1413

1744

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3909

5779

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

483

756

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1798

3163

Name	AMD FX-6120	Intel Core i7-3820
PassMark - Single thread mark	1413	1744
PassMark - CPU mark	3909	5779
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	483	756
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1798	3163
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		3318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		4.665
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		84.218
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.606
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		2.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		5.758

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-6120	Intel Core i7-3820
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	October 2012	February 2012
Place in performance rating	2225	2236
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$400
Price now		$199.99
Processor Number		i7-3820
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		13.26
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	315 mm	294 mm
L1 cache	288 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	6144 KB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	10240 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Transistor count	1200 million	1270 million
Unlocked
Base frequency		3.60 GHz
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		67 °C
Maximum core temperature		66.8°C
Number of threads		8
VID voltage range		0.600V – 1.350V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Max memory channels		4
Maximum memory bandwidth		51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size		64.23 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		52.5mm x 45.0mm
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® 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™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
PCI Express revision		2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)