AMD Phenom II X4 B93 vs Intel Core i7-965

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 B93 and Intel Core i7-965 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.

AMD Phenom II X4 B93

Intel Core i7-965

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 B93

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
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

Launch date	October 2009 vs November 2008
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)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-965

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 24% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 29% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1475 vs 1142
Around 59% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3424 vs 2159

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1475 vs 1142
PassMark - CPU mark	3424 vs 2159

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 B93
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-965

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1142

1475

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2159

3424

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 B93	Intel Core i7-965
PassMark - Single thread mark	1142	1475
PassMark - CPU mark	2159	3424
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		578
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		2233

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 B93	Intel Core i7-965
Essentials
Architecture codename	Deneb	Bloomfield
Launch date	October 2009	November 2008
Place in performance rating	2008	2021
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,509
Price now		$139.99
Processor Number		i7-965
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		12.32
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	2.8 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	758 million	731 million
Base frequency		3.20 GHz
Bus Speed		6.4 GT/s QPI
Maximum core temperature		67.9°C
Number of QPI Links		1
Number of threads		8
Unlocked
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
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)