Intel Core i7-990X vs AMD Athlon II X4 605e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-990X and AMD Athlon II X4 605e 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.

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 4 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 62% higher clock speed: 3.73 GHz vs 2.3 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • Around 57% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1586 vs 1009
  • 3.6x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7168 vs 1997
Specifications (specs)
Launch date February 2011 vs October 2009
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Maximum frequency 3.73 GHz vs 2.3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1586 vs 1009
PassMark - CPU mark 7168 vs 1997

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 605e

  • 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
  • 2.9x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • 2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1433 vs 665
  • Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4113 vs 3608
Specifications (specs)
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) 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1433 vs 665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4113 vs 3608

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-990X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X4 605e

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1586
1009
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
7168
1997
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
665
1433
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
3608
4113
Name Intel Core i7-990X AMD Athlon II X4 605e
PassMark - Single thread mark 1586 1009
PassMark - CPU mark 7168 1997
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 665 1433
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3608 4113
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0 0

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-990X AMD Athlon II X4 605e

Essentials

Architecture codename Gulftown Propus
Launch date February 2011 October 2009
Launch price (MSRP) $1,104 $102
Place in performance rating 2157 2149
Price now $349.99 $101.80
Processor Number i7-990X
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 7.65 7.96
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.46 GHz
Bus Speed 6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size 239 mm2 169 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)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.73 GHz 2.3 GHz
Number of cores 6 4
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 12
Transistor count 1170 million 300 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 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)