AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE vs Intel Core i7-940

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE and Intel Core i7-940 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Virtualization, 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • Around 6% higher clock speed: 3.4 GHz vs 3.20 GHz
  • Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 71°C vs 67.9°C
  • 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 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • 9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.563 vs 0.508
  • Around 17% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.224 vs 0.191
  • 2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.98 vs 2.347
Specifications (specs)
Launch date June 2010 vs November 2008
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency 3.4 GHz vs 3.20 GHz
Maximum core temperature 71°C vs 67.9°C
L1 cache 512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.563 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.224 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.98 vs 2.347

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-940

  • 4 more threads: 8 vs 4
  • Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1310 vs 1300
  • Around 25% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2947 vs 2362
  • Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 512 vs 435
  • Around 45% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1971 vs 1359
  • 2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 32.258 vs 13.634
  • Around 84% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.84 vs 0.457
Specifications (specs)
Number of threads 8 vs 4
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1310 vs 1300
PassMark - CPU mark 2947 vs 2362
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 512 vs 435
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1971 vs 1359
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 32.258 vs 13.634
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.84 vs 0.457

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-940

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1300
1310
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2362
2947
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
435
512
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1359
1971
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.563
0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
13.634
32.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.224
0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.457
0.84
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.98
2.347
Name AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE Intel Core i7-940
PassMark - Single thread mark 1300 1310
PassMark - CPU mark 2362 2947
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 435 512
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1359 1971
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.563 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 13.634 32.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.224 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.457 0.84
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.98 2.347

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE Intel Core i7-940

Essentials

Architecture codename Zosma Bloomfield
Family AMD Phenom
Launch date June 2010 November 2008
OPN PIB HD96ZTWFGRBOX
OPN Tray HD96ZTWFK4DGR
Place in performance rating 2863 2854
Series AMD Phenom II X4 Black Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $299
Price now $70.70
Processor Number i7-940
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 22.33

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3 GHz 2.93 GHz
Die size 346 mm 263 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 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.4 GHz 3.20 GHz
Number of cores 4 4
Number of threads 4 8
Transistor count 904 million 731 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 4.8 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
Number of QPI Links 1
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

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)

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