Intel Core i7-3960X vs AMD Phenom X3 8550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3960X 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).

Intel Core i7-3960X

AMD Phenom X3 8550

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

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 77% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
7.5x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.2x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1800 vs 835
7.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 vs 1079
Around 56% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 3171

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2011 vs April 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 3
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800 vs 835
PassMark - CPU mark	8446 vs 1079
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 3171

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8550

Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 66% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1361 vs 821

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1361 vs 821

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3960X
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1800

835

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8446

1079

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

821

1361

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4933

3171

Name	Intel Core i7-3960X	AMD Phenom X3 8550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800	835
PassMark - CPU mark	8446	1079
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821	1361
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933	3171
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 X3 8550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Toliman
Launch date	November 2011	April 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$861	$170
Place in performance rating	2065	2043
Price now	$799.99	$169.95
Processor Number	i7-3960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.64	3.33
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 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	15360 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	3.90 GHz	2.2 GHz
Number of cores	6	3
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	2270 million	450 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
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™)