Intel Core i7-3970X vs AMD Phenom X3 8600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3970X and AMD Phenom X3 8600 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 i7-3970X

AMD Phenom X3 8600

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 8 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 74% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 2.3 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
Around 90% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4715 vs 2486

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2012 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 3
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 2.3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4715 vs 2486

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8600

Around 58% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 150 Watt
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1030 vs 792

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 150 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1030 vs 792

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3970X
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8600

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

792

1030

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4715

2486

Name	Intel Core i7-3970X	AMD Phenom X3 8600
PassMark - Single thread mark	1850
PassMark - CPU mark	8541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	792	1030
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4715	2486
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.513
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.433

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3970X	AMD Phenom X3 8600
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Toliman
Launch date	November 2012	March 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$593
Place in performance rating	2036	2025
Price now	$909.99
Processor Number	i7-3970X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.50 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)	70 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz	2.3 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	64.45 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)	150 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™)