AMD FX-8120 vs Intel Xeon X5660

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-8120 and Intel Xeon X5660 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 Xeon X5660

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-8120

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 6
Around 25% higher clock speed: 4 GHz vs 3.20 GHz
5.3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 7.468 vs 2.733

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2011 vs March 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Maximum frequency	4 GHz vs 3.20 GHz
L2 cache	8 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.468 vs 2.733

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon X5660

4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 33% higher maximum core temperature: 81.3°C vs 61°C
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 32% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1350 vs 1330
2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 10343 vs 4631
Around 13% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 542 vs 480
Around 54% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3231 vs 2092
3.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 55.088 vs 18
Around 90% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.722 vs 0.38
Around 52% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.363 vs 0.898
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 12.8 vs 5.613

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum core temperature	81.3°C vs 61°C
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 8 MB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1350 vs 1330
PassMark - CPU mark	10343 vs 4631
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	542 vs 480
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3231 vs 2092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	55.088 vs 18
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.722 vs 0.38
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.363 vs 0.898
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	12.8 vs 5.613

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-8120
CPU 2: Intel Xeon X5660

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1330

1350

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4631

10343

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

480

542

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2092

3231

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.468

2.733

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

55.088

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.38

0.722

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.898

1.363

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.613

12.8

Name	AMD FX-8120	Intel Xeon X5660
PassMark - Single thread mark	1330	1350
PassMark - CPU mark	4631	10343
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	480	542
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2092	3231
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2399
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.468	2.733
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18	55.088
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.38	0.722
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.898	1.363
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.613	12.8

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-8120	Intel Xeon X5660
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Westmere EP
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2011	March 2010
OPN PIB	FD8120FRGUBOX
OPN Tray	FD8120FRW8KGU
Place in performance rating	2675	2412
Price now	$99.99	$112.91
Series	AMD FX 8-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Xeon® Processors
Value for money (0-100)	19.43	19.89
Vertical segment	Desktop	Server
Launch price (MSRP)		$33
Processor Number		X5660
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.1 GHz	2.80 GHz
Die size	315 mm	239 mm
L1 cache	384 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	61°C	81.3°C
Maximum frequency	4 GHz	3.20 GHz
Number of cores	8	6
Number of threads	8	12
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count	1200 million	1170 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		6.4 GT/s QPI
Number of QPI Links		2
VID voltage range		0.750V-1.350V
Memory
Supported memory types		DDR3 800/1066/1333
ECC memory support
Max memory channels		3
Maximum memory bandwidth		32 GB/s
Maximum memory size		288 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	2
Sockets supported	AM3+	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		42.5mmX45mm
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
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		40-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)