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).

 

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: 1800 vs 1233
  • 7.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 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 1800 vs 1233
PassMark - CPU mark 8446 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
1800
1233
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
8446
1167
Name Intel Core i7-3960X AMD Phenom II X2 550
PassMark - Single thread mark 1800 1233
PassMark - CPU mark 8446 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)