Intel Core i7-5960X vs AMD Athlon II X2 280

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-5960X and AMD Athlon II X2 280 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, 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 i7-5960X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 6 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 2
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1989 vs 1462
  • 9.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 12758 vs 1355
  • 2.4x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7886 vs 3272
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 1 September 2014 vs February 2013
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 8 vs 2
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache 256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache 2 MB vs 1024 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1989 vs 1462
PassMark - CPU mark 12758 vs 1355
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 7886 vs 3272

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X2 280

  • Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.6 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
  • 2.2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 140 Watt
  • Around 94% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1941 vs 1000
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.6 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1941 vs 1000

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-5960X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X2 280

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1989
1462
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
12758
1355
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1000
1941
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
7886
3272
Name Intel Core i7-5960X AMD Athlon II X2 280
PassMark - Single thread mark 1989 1462
PassMark - CPU mark 12758 1355
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1000 1941
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 7886 3272
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 5203
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 10.511
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 196.307
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.218
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 5.467
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 14.265

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-5960X AMD Athlon II X2 280

Essentials

Architecture codename Haswell E Regor
Launch date 1 September 2014 February 2013
Launch price (MSRP) $999 $100
Place in performance rating 1474 1475
Price now $768.99 $99.99
Processor Number i7-5960X
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 6.11 6.28
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.00 GHz
Bus Speed 0 GT/s
Die size 356 mm 117 mm
L1 cache 256 KB 128 KB
L2 cache 2 MB 1024 KB
L3 cache 20 MB
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 66.8 °C
Maximum frequency 3.50 GHz 3.6 GHz
Number of cores 8 2
Number of threads 16
Transistor count 2600 million 410 million
Unlocked

Memory

Max memory channels 4
Maximum memory bandwidth 68 GB/s
Maximum memory size 64 GB
Supported memory types DDR4 1600/1866/2133 DDR2, DDR3

Graphics

Processor graphics None

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA2011-3 AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 140 Watt 65 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 40
PCI Express revision 3.0
Scalability 1S Only

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® AVX2
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)