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).

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Intel Core i7-940

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 1212
Around 26% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2947 vs 2345
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 1212
PassMark - CPU mark	2947 vs 2345
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

1212

1310

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2345

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	1212	1310
PassMark - CPU mark	2345	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	2868	2854
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)