AMD FX-8320 vs Intel Core i7-970

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-8320 and Intel Core i7-970 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-8320

Intel Core i7-970

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-8320

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 3 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 16% higher clock speed: 4 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
5.3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 4% lower typical power consumption: 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
6.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 9.459 vs 1.559

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2012 vs July 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Maximum frequency	4 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
L2 cache	8 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	9.459 vs 1.559

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-970

4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 61.10°C
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6538 vs 5445
Around 13% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 592 vs 524
Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 2495
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.006 vs 22.798
Around 17% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.506 vs 0.434
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 1.227
Around 4% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 6.54

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C vs 61.10°C
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 8 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1467 vs 1465
PassMark - CPU mark	6538 vs 5445
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	592 vs 524
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217 vs 2495
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006 vs 22.798
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506 vs 0.434
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584 vs 1.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816 vs 6.54

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-8320
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-970

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1465

1467

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

5445

6538

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

524

592

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2495

3217

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.459

1.559

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

22.798

49.006

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.434

0.506

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.227

2.584

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.54

6.816

Name	AMD FX-8320	Intel Core i7-970
PassMark - Single thread mark	1465	1467
PassMark - CPU mark	5445	6538
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	524	592
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2495	3217
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2862
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	9.459	1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	22.798	49.006
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.434	0.506
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.227	2.584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.54	6.816

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-8320	Intel Core i7-970
Essentials
Architecture codename	Vishera	Gulftown
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2012	July 2010
OPN PIB	FD8320FRHKBOX
OPN Tray	FD8320FRW8KHK
Place in performance rating	2490	2481
Price now	$92.50	$148.99
Series	AMD FX 8-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	25.53	16.59
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$662
Processor Number		i7-970
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.5 GHz	3.20 GHz
Die size	315 mm	239 mm2
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 SOI	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	61.10°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	4 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	8	6
Number of threads	8	12
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.2 V - Max: 1.4 V
Transistor count	1200 million	1170 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		4.8 GT/s QPI
Number of QPI Links		1
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Supported memory frequency	1866 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 800/1066
Max memory channels		3
Maximum memory bandwidth		25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size		24 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		42.5mm X 45.0mm
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)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)