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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-6120

  • CPU is newer: launch date 7 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)