Intel Core i7-860S vs AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-860S and AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE 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, 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), Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i7-860S

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-860S

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 52% lower typical power consumption: 82 Watt vs 125 Watt
4.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 46.184 vs 11.035
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.278 vs 0.192

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2010 vs January 2009
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	82 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.184 vs 11.035
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.278 vs 0.192

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
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 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1213 vs 1173
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2358 vs 2324
4.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.763 vs 0.907
Around 42% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.856 vs 2.716

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1213 vs 1173
PassMark - CPU mark	2358 vs 2324
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.763 vs 0.907
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.856 vs 2.716

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-860S
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1173

1213

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2324

2358

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.907

3.763

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

46.184

11.035

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.278

0.192

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.716

3.856

Name	Intel Core i7-860S	AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
PassMark - Single thread mark	1173	1213
PassMark - CPU mark	2324	2358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.907	3.763
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.184	11.035
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.278	0.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.222
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.716	3.856
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		397
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1331

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-860S	AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
Essentials
Architecture codename	Lynnfield	Deneb
Launch date	January 2010	January 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$422
Place in performance rating	2866	2869
Price now	$198.99
Processor Number	i7-860S
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.97
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.53 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	296 mm2	258 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	774 million	758 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA1156	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	82 Watt	125 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
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)