AMD Phenom II X3 720 vs Intel Core i7-975

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X3 720 and Intel Core i7-975 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 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 Phenom II X3 720

  • CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
  • Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 50% 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 January 2010 vs June 2009
L1 cache 128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-975

  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 1 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 3
  • Around 29% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
  • Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1499 vs 1105
  • 2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3493 vs 1575
  • Around 62% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 606 vs 374
  • 2.5x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2380 vs 968
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 4 vs 3
Maximum frequency 3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1499 vs 1105
PassMark - CPU mark 3493 vs 1575
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 606 vs 374
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2380 vs 968

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X3 720
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-975

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1105
1499
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1575
3493
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
374
606
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
968
2380
Name AMD Phenom II X3 720 Intel Core i7-975
PassMark - Single thread mark 1105 1499
PassMark - CPU mark 1575 3493
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 374 606
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 968 2380
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 1.084
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 63.217
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.858
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.196

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Phenom II X3 720 Intel Core i7-975

Essentials

Architecture codename Heka Bloomfield
Launch date January 2010 June 2009
Launch price (MSRP) $75 $476
Place in performance rating 2587 2589
Price now $69.99 $179.99
Value for money (0-100) 11.28 10.04
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Processor Number i7-975
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued

Performance

64 bit support
Die size 258 mm 263 mm2
L1 cache 128 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6144 KB (shared) 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 45 nm 45 nm
Maximum frequency 2.8 GHz 3.60 GHz
Number of cores 3 4
Transistor count 758 million 731 million
Base frequency 3.33 GHz
Bus Speed 6.4 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 8
Unlocked
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

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) 95 Watt 130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size 42.5mm x 45.0mm

Security & Reliability

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

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
Thermal Monitoring

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)