Intel Core i7-3820 vs AMD A6-3500

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3820 and AMD A6-3500 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i7-3820

AMD A6-3500

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3820

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
1 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 3
Around 81% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
Around 81% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1745 vs 963
4.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5769 vs 1420
2.5x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 756 vs 307
4.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3163 vs 770
17.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.665 vs 0.267
52.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 84.218 vs 1.595
7.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.606 vs 0.083

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2012 vs August 2011
Number of cores	4 vs 3
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745 vs 963
PassMark - CPU mark	5769 vs 1420
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	756 vs 307
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3163 vs 770
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.665 vs 0.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	84.218 vs 1.595
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.606 vs 0.083

Reasons to consider the AMD A6-3500

Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 130 Watt
3.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 7.184 vs 2.267
4.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 26.895 vs 5.758

Specifications (specs)
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	7.184 vs 2.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	26.895 vs 5.758

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3820
CPU 2: AMD A6-3500

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1745

963

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

5769

1420

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

756

307

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3163

770

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.665

0.267

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

84.218

1.595

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.606

0.083

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.267

7.184

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.758

26.895

Name	Intel Core i7-3820	AMD A6-3500
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745	963
PassMark - CPU mark	5769	1420
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	756	307
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3163	770
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.665	0.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	84.218	1.595
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.606	0.083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.267	7.184
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.758	26.895
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		719
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		4450
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		719
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		4450

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3820	AMD A6-3500
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Llano
Launch date	February 2012	August 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$400
Place in performance rating	2232	2249
Price now	$199.99
Processor Number	i7-3820
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	13.26
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.60 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	294 mm	228 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	2.1 GHz
Number of cores	4	3
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	1270 million	1178 million
VID voltage range	0.600V – 1.350V
Memory
Max memory channels	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64.23 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333/1600	DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FM1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	65 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)