AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE vs Intel Core i7-860S

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE and Intel Core i7-860S processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Virtualization, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. 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).

AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE

Intel Core i7-860S

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE

CPU is newer: launch date 5 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 11% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1304 vs 1173
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2375 vs 2324
5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.563 vs 0.907
Around 83% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.98 vs 2.716

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	June 2010 vs January 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1304 vs 1173
PassMark - CPU mark	2375 vs 2324
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.563 vs 0.907
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.98 vs 2.716

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-860S

4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 2% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 16% lower typical power consumption: 82 Watt vs 95 Watt
3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 46.184 vs 13.634
Around 24% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.278 vs 0.224
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.222 vs 0.457

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	82 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.184 vs 13.634
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.278 vs 0.224
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.222 vs 0.457

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-860S

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1304

1173

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2375

2324

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.563

0.907

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

13.634

46.184

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.224

0.278

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.457

1.222

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.98

2.716

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE	Intel Core i7-860S
PassMark - Single thread mark	1304	1173
PassMark - CPU mark	2375	2324
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	435
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1359
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.563	0.907
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	13.634	46.184
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.224	0.278
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.457	1.222
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.98	2.716

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE	Intel Core i7-860S
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zosma	Lynnfield
Family	AMD Phenom
Launch date	June 2010	January 2010
OPN PIB	HD96ZTWFGRBOX
OPN Tray	HD96ZTWFK4DGR
Place in performance rating	2865	2866
Series	AMD Phenom II X4 Black	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$422
Price now		$198.99
Processor Number		i7-860S
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		6.97
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3 GHz	2.53 GHz
Die size	346 mm	296 mm2
L1 cache	512 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	71°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	904 million	774 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		2.5 GT/s DMI
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		16 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	82 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
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)
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
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
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring