Intel Core i7-3820 vs Intel Core i5-661

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3820 and Intel Core i5-661 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces. 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).

Intel Core i7-3820

Intel Core i5-661

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3820

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 0 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 6% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
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
2.5x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
3.9x more maximum memory size: 64.23 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1745 vs 1448
2.3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5767 vs 2470
Around 46% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 756 vs 518
2.6x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3163 vs 1214

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2012 vs January 2010
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared) vs 4096 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	64.23 GB vs 16.38 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745 vs 1448
PassMark - CPU mark	5767 vs 2470
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	756 vs 518
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3163 vs 1214

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-661

Around 4% higher maximum core temperature: 69.8°C vs 66.8°C
Around 49% lower typical power consumption: 87 Watt vs 130 Watt

Maximum core temperature	69.8°C vs 66.8°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	87 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3820
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-661

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1745

1448

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

5767

2470

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

756

518

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3163

1214

Name	Intel Core i7-3820	Intel Core i5-661
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745	1448
PassMark - CPU mark	5767	2470
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	756	518
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3163	1214
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.665
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	84.218
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.606
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.758

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3820	Intel Core i5-661
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Clarkdale
Launch date	February 2012	January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$400	$252
Place in performance rating	2232	2243
Price now	$199.99	$99.99
Processor Number	i7-3820	i5-661
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	13.26	9.35
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.60 GHz	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	294 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared)	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C	69.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	8	4
Transistor count	1270 million	382 million
VID voltage range	0.600V – 1.350V	0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64.23 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	87 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
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® SSE4.2
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
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		900 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics		Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2