Intel Core i7-3960X vs AMD Phenom II X2 550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3960X and AMD Phenom II X2 550 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).

Intel Core i7-3960X

AMD Phenom II X2 550

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 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 26% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.1 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% 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
Around 46% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1801 vs 1233
7.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8460 vs 1167

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2011 vs November 2009
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.1 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1801 vs 1233
PassMark - CPU mark	8460 vs 1167

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X2 550

Around 63% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 130 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3960X
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X2 550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1801

1233

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8460

1167

Name	Intel Core i7-3960X	AMD Phenom II X2 550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1801	1233
PassMark - CPU mark	8460	1167
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933
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 Phenom II X2 550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Callisto
Launch date	November 2011	November 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$861	$133
Place in performance rating	2065	2042
Price now	$799.99	$49.99
Processor Number	i7-3960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.64	11.92
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	435 mm	258 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	3.1 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	2270 million	758 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.6V-1.35V
Memory
Max memory channels	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64 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	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	80 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)