Intel Core i7-970 vs AMD Phenom II X2 B55

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-970 and AMD Phenom II X2 B55 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, 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 i7-970

AMD Phenom II X2 B55

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-970

CPU is newer: launch date 9 month(s) later
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1467 vs 1201
5.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6546 vs 1183
Around 13% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 2854
4.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.006 vs 10.41
2.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.506 vs 0.191
8.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 0.318
Around 92% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 3.556

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	July 2010 vs October 2009
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1467 vs 1201
PassMark - CPU mark	6546 vs 1183
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217 vs 2854
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006 vs 10.41
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584 vs 0.318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816 vs 3.556

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X2 B55

Around 63% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 130 Watt
3.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1851 vs 592
2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.707 vs 1.559

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1851 vs 592
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.707 vs 1.559

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-970
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X2 B55

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1467

1201

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6546

1183

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

592

1851

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3217

2854

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.559

3.707

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

49.006

10.41

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.506

0.191

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.584

0.318

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.816

3.556

Name	Intel Core i7-970	AMD Phenom II X2 B55
PassMark - Single thread mark	1467	1201
PassMark - CPU mark	6546	1183
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	592	1851
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217	2854
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.559	3.707
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006	10.41
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506	0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584	0.318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816	3.556

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-970	AMD Phenom II X2 B55
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Callisto
Launch date	July 2010	October 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$662	$48
Place in performance rating	2474	2495
Price now	$148.99	$48
Processor Number	i7-970
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	16.59	11.85
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 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	12288 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	1170 million	758 million
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	DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	80 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)