AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF vs Intel Core i7-3970X

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF and Intel Core i7-3970X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 Ryzen 5 1600 AF

Intel Core i7-3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm vs 32 nm
Around 7% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 150 Watt

Manufacturing process technology	12 nm vs 32 nm
L3 cache	16 MB vs 15360 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 150 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 11% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
Around 1% higher maximum memory size: 64.45 GB vs 64 GB

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
Maximum memory size	64.45 GB vs 64 GB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3970X

Name	AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF	Intel Core i7-3970X
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3319	0
PassMark - Single thread mark		1850
PassMark - CPU mark		8541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		792
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		4715
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		21.513
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		7.433

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF	Intel Core i7-3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen+	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	Q1'2020	November 2012
OPN Tray	YD1600BBAFBOX
Place in performance rating	2027	2036
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$593
Price now		$909.99
Processor Number		i7-3970X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		4.10
Performance
Base frequency	3.2 GHz	3.50 GHz
L3 cache	16 MB	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz	4.00 GHz
Number of cores	6	6
Number of threads	12	12
64 bit support
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI2
Die size		435 mm
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		256 KB (per core)
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		70 °C
Maximum core temperature		66.8°C
Transistor count		2270 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range		0.6V-1.35V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	39.74 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64 GB	64.45 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2667	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Compatibility
Sockets supported	AM4	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	150 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Package Size		52.5mm x 45.0mm
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	40
PCI Express revision		2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)