Intel Core i7-965 vs AMD Athlon X2 5050e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-965 and AMD Athlon X2 5050e processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i7-965

AMD Athlon X2 5050e

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-965

CPU is newer: launch date 1 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 33% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 65 nm
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 61% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1475 vs 917
4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3424 vs 846
Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2233 vs 2164

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2008 vs October 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 65 nm
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1475 vs 917
PassMark - CPU mark	3424 vs 846
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2233 vs 2164

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon X2 5050e

2.9x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1252 vs 578

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1252 vs 578

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-965
CPU 2: AMD Athlon X2 5050e

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1475

917

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3424

846

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

578

1252

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2233

2164

Name	Intel Core i7-965	AMD Athlon X2 5050e
PassMark - Single thread mark	1475	917
PassMark - CPU mark	3424	846
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	578	1252
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2233	2164

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-965	AMD Athlon X2 5050e
Essentials
Architecture codename	Bloomfield	Brisbane
Launch date	November 2008	October 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,509
Place in performance rating	2097	2119
Price now	$139.99
Processor Number	i7-965
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	12.32
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	263 mm2	126 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	2.6 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	731 million	154 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	AM2
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	45 Watt
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
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)