AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE vs Intel Core i7-940

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE and Intel Core i7-940 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 - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 2x 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
  • 7.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.763 vs 0.508
  • Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.192 vs 0.191
  • Around 64% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.856 vs 2.347
Specifications (specs)
Launch date January 2009 vs November 2008
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
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) 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.763 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.192 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 3.856 vs 2.347

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-940

  • Around 7% higher clock speed: 3.20 GHz vs 3 GHz
  • Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 8% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1310 vs 1213
  • Around 25% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2947 vs 2358
  • Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 512 vs 397
  • Around 48% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1971 vs 1331
  • 2.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 32.258 vs 11.035
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.20 GHz vs 3 GHz
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1310 vs 1213
PassMark - CPU mark 2947 vs 2358
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 512 vs 397
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1971 vs 1331
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 32.258 vs 11.035

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-940

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1213
1310
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2358
2947
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
397
512
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1331
1971
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.763
0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
11.035
32.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.192
0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.856
2.347
Name AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE Intel Core i7-940
PassMark - Single thread mark 1213 1310
PassMark - CPU mark 2358 2947
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 397 512
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1331 1971
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.763 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 11.035 32.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.192 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 3.856 2.347
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.84

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE Intel Core i7-940

Essentials

Architecture codename Deneb Bloomfield
Launch date January 2009 November 2008
Place in performance rating 2867 2852
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $299
Price now $70.70
Processor Number i7-940
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 22.33

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 3 GHz 3.20 GHz
Number of cores 4 4
Transistor count 758 million 731 million
Unlocked
Base frequency 2.93 GHz
Bus Speed 4.8 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 8
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) 125 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)