Intel Core i7-3930K vs AMD Phenom X3 8550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3930K and AMD Phenom X3 8550 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3930K

  • CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 7 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 3 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 3
  • Around 73% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
  • 6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • 2.1x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1747 vs 835
  • 7.6x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8205 vs 1079
  • Around 45% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4610 vs 3171
Specifications (specs)
Launch date November 2011 vs April 2008
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 6 vs 3
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache 12288 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1747 vs 835
PassMark - CPU mark 8205 vs 1079
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4610 vs 3171

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8550

  • Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • Around 73% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1361 vs 787
Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1361 vs 787

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3930K
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8550

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1747
835
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
8205
1079
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
787
1361
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
4610
3171
Name Intel Core i7-3930K AMD Phenom X3 8550
PassMark - Single thread mark 1747 835
PassMark - CPU mark 8205 1079
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 787 1361
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4610 3171
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 5049
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 6.321
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 65.02
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.735
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 3.141
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.34

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-3930K AMD Phenom X3 8550

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge E Toliman
Launch date November 2011 April 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $611 $170
Place in performance rating 2053 2043
Price now $397.99 $169.95
Processor Number i7-3930K
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 8.88 3.33
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.20 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI2
Die size 435 mm 285 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 128 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 512 KB (per core)
L3 cache 12288 KB (shared) 2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 65 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 66.8°C
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz 2.2 GHz
Number of cores 6 3
Number of threads 12
Transistor count 2270 million 450 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range 0.600-1.350V

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

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA2011 AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 130 Watt 95 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™)