Intel Core i7-980X vs AMD Phenom II X4 820

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-980X and AMD Phenom II X4 820 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
  • Around 29% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • 3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1526 vs 1121
  • 3.3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6826 vs 2081
  • Around 73% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 628 vs 364
  • 3.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 1098
Specifications (specs)
Launch date March 2010 vs September 2009
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Maximum frequency 3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
L3 cache 12288 KB (shared) vs 4096 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1526 vs 1121
PassMark - CPU mark 6826 vs 2081
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 628 vs 364
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3462 vs 1098

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 820

  • Around 33% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 33% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
L1 cache 128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-980X
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X4 820

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1526
1121
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
6826
2081
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
628
364
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
3462
1098
Name Intel Core i7-980X AMD Phenom II X4 820
PassMark - Single thread mark 1526 1121
PassMark - CPU mark 6826 2081
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 628 364
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3462 1098
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 Phenom II X4 820

Essentials

Architecture codename Gulftown Deneb
Launch date March 2010 September 2009
Launch price (MSRP) $959 $90
Place in performance rating 2573 2565
Price now $218.99 $74.95
Processor Number i7-980X
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 11.82 13.36
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.33 GHz
Bus Speed 6.4 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) 4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.60 GHz 2.8 GHz
Number of cores 6 4
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 12
Transistor count 1170 million 758 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 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 95 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)