AMD FX-8120 vs Intel Core i7-870

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-8120 and Intel Core i7-870 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-8120

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 0 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 4 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 4
  • Around 11% higher clock speed: 4 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 48% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4634 vs 3140
  • Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2092 vs 2032
  • 7.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 7.468 vs 1.029
  • Around 11% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.38 vs 0.342
  • Around 22% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.613 vs 4.602
Specifications (specs)
Launch date October 2011 vs September 2009
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 8 vs 4
Maximum frequency 4 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache 384 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 8 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 4634 vs 3140
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2092 vs 2032
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 7.468 vs 1.029
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.38 vs 0.342
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.613 vs 4.602

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-870

  • Around 19% higher maximum core temperature: 72.7°C vs 61°C
  • Around 32% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 125 Watt
  • Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1384 vs 1332
  • Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 547 vs 480
  • Around 2% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 2453 vs 2399
  • 3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 53.478 vs 18
  • Around 72% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.541 vs 0.898
Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature 72.7°C vs 61°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1384 vs 1332
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 547 vs 480
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2453 vs 2399
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 53.478 vs 18
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.541 vs 0.898

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-8120
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-870

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1332
1384
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4634
3140
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
480
547
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2092
2032
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
2399
2453
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
7.468
1.029
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
18
53.478
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.38
0.342
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.898
1.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
5.613
4.602
Name AMD FX-8120 Intel Core i7-870
PassMark - Single thread mark 1332 1384
PassMark - CPU mark 4634 3140
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 480 547
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2092 2032
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2399 2453
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 7.468 1.029
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 18 53.478
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.38 0.342
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.898 1.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.613 4.602

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD FX-8120 Intel Core i7-870

Essentials

Architecture codename Zambezi Lynnfield
Family AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date October 2011 September 2009
OPN PIB FD8120FRGUBOX
OPN Tray FD8120FRW8KGU
Place in performance rating 2665 2671
Price now $99.99 $98.99
Series AMD FX 8-Core Black Edition Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100) 19.43 15.90
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $197
Processor Number i7-870
Status Discontinued

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.1 GHz 2.93 GHz
Die size 315 mm 296 mm2
L1 cache 384 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 8 MB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8 MB 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 61°C 72.7°C
Maximum frequency 4 GHz 3.60 GHz
Number of cores 8 4
Number of threads 8 8
P0 Vcore voltage Min: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count 1200 million 774 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 2.5 GT/s DMI
VID voltage range 0.6500V-1.4000V

Memory

Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 16 GB

Compatibility

Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Sockets supported AM3+ LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 125 Watt 95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm

Peripherals

PCI Express revision n / a 2.0
Max number of PCIe lanes 16
PCIe configurations 1x16, 2x8

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
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
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)

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)