Intel Core i7-980X vs AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-980X and AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620 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, 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 i7-980X

AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 4 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
5 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 1
Around 50% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 90 nm
3x 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
3.2x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1527 vs 475
16.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6817 vs 421
3.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 1074

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2010 vs October 2007
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 1
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 90 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 1024 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1527 vs 475
PassMark - CPU mark	6817 vs 421
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462 vs 1074

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620

2.9x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 75% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1101 vs 628

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1101 vs 628

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-980X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1527

475

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6817

421

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

628

1101

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3462

1074

Name	Intel Core i7-980X	AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620
PassMark - Single thread mark	1527	475
PassMark - CPU mark	6817	421
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628	1101
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462	1074
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-980X	AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Windsor
Launch date	March 2010	October 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$959
Place in performance rating	2573	2576
Price now	$218.99
Processor Number	i7-980X
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	11.82
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm2	230 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1024 KB
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	90 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	6	1
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	1170 million	227 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 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)