AMD FX-8120 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8300

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-8120 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8300 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, 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-8120

Intel Core 2 Duo E8300

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-8120

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 5 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
6 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 2
Around 41% higher clock speed: 4 GHz vs 2.83 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 33% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 23% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1330 vs 1084
4.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4629 vs 1019
Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 480 vs 371
3.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2092 vs 628

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2011 vs April 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	8 vs 2
Maximum frequency	4 GHz vs 2.83 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	384 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	8 MB vs 6144 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1330 vs 1084
PassMark - CPU mark	4629 vs 1019
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	480 vs 371
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2092 vs 628

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8300

Around 19% higher maximum core temperature: 72.4°C vs 61°C
Around 92% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 125 Watt

Maximum core temperature	72.4°C vs 61°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 125 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-8120
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8300

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1330

1084

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4629

1019

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

480

371

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2092

628

Name	AMD FX-8120	Intel Core 2 Duo E8300
PassMark - Single thread mark	1330	1084
PassMark - CPU mark	4629	1019
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	480	371
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2092	628
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2399
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.468
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.38
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.898
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.613

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-8120	Intel Core 2 Duo E8300
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Wolfdale
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2011	April 2008
OPN PIB	FD8120FRGUBOX
OPN Tray	FD8120FRW8KGU
Place in performance rating	2652	2646
Price now	$99.99	$19.99
Series	AMD FX 8-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	19.43	29.35
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		E8300
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.1 GHz	2.83 GHz
Die size	315 mm	107 mm2
L1 cache	384 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	8 MB	6144 KB
L3 cache	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	61°C	72.4°C
Maximum frequency	4 GHz	2.83 GHz
Number of cores	8	2
Number of threads	8
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count	1200 million	410 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Supported memory types		DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	65 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
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
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)