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).

AMD Phenom II X4 960T BE

Intel Core i7-940

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 1302
Around 24% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2947 vs 2370
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 1302
PassMark - CPU mark	2947 vs 2370
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

1302

1310

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2370

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	1302	1310
PassMark - CPU mark	2370	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	2862	2852
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