Intel Core i7-3960X vs AMD Athlon X2 5050e
Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3960X and AMD Athlon X2 5050e 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 i7-3960X
- CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 1 month(s) later
- Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
- 4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
- Around 50% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
- A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
- 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
- Around 96% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1800 vs 917
- 10x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 vs 846
- 2.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 2164
| Specifications (specs) | |
| Launch date | November 2011 vs October 2008 |
| Unlocked | Unlocked vs Locked |
| Number of cores | 6 vs 2 |
| Maximum frequency | 3.90 GHz vs 2.6 GHz |
| Manufacturing process technology | 32 nm vs 65 nm |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) vs 256 KB |
| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB |
| Benchmarks | |
| PassMark - Single thread mark | 1800 vs 917 |
| PassMark - CPU mark | 8446 vs 846 |
| Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core | 4933 vs 2164 |
Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon X2 5050e
- 2.9x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
- Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1252 vs 821
| Specifications (specs) | |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 45 Watt vs 130 Watt |
| Benchmarks | |
| Geekbench 4 - Single Core | 1252 vs 821 |
Compare benchmarks
CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3960X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon X2 5050e
| PassMark - Single thread mark |
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| PassMark - CPU mark |
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| Geekbench 4 - Single Core |
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| Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core |
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| Name | Intel Core i7-3960X | AMD Athlon X2 5050e |
|---|---|---|
| PassMark - Single thread mark | 1800 | 917 |
| PassMark - CPU mark | 8446 | 846 |
| Geekbench 4 - Single Core | 821 | 1252 |
| Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core | 4933 | 2164 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score | 5484 | |
| CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) | 6.358 | |
| CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) | 27.376 | |
| CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) | 0.727 | |
| CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) | 2.924 | |
| CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) | 7.797 |
Compare specifications (specs)
| Intel Core i7-3960X | AMD Athlon X2 5050e | |
|---|---|---|
Essentials |
||
| Architecture codename | Sandy Bridge E | Brisbane |
| Launch date | November 2011 | October 2008 |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $861 | |
| Place in performance rating | 2117 | 2121 |
| Price now | $799.99 | |
| Processor Number | i7-3960X | |
| Series | Intel® Core™ X-series Processors | |
| Status | Discontinued | |
| Value for money (0-100) | 4.64 | |
| Vertical segment | Desktop | Desktop |
Performance |
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| 64 bit support | ||
| Base frequency | 3.30 GHz | |
| Bus Speed | 5 GT/s DMI2 | |
| Die size | 435 mm | 126 mm |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |
| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB |
| L3 cache | 15360 KB (shared) | |
| Manufacturing process technology | 32 nm | 65 nm |
| Maximum case temperature (TCase) | 67 °C | |
| Maximum core temperature | 66.8°C | |
| Maximum frequency | 3.90 GHz | 2.6 GHz |
| Number of cores | 6 | 2 |
| Number of threads | 12 | |
| Transistor count | 2270 million | 154 million |
| Unlocked | ||
| VID voltage range | 0.6V-1.35V | |
Memory |
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| Max memory channels | 4 | |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | |
| Maximum memory size | 64 GB | |
| Supported memory types | DDR3 1066/1333/1600 | |
Compatibility |
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| 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 | 45 Watt |
Peripherals |
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| Max number of PCIe lanes | 40 | |
| PCI Express revision | 2.0 | |
Security & Reliability |
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| Execute Disable Bit (EDB) | ||
| Intel® Identity Protection technology | ||
| Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT) | ||
Advanced Technologies |
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| 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 |
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| Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) | ||
| Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) | ||
| Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) | ||
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