Intel Core i7-990X vs AMD Athlon X2 4850e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-990X and AMD Athlon X2 4850e 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.

Intel Core i7-990X

AMD Athlon X2 4850e

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
Around 49% higher clock speed: 3.73 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 75% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1583 vs 903
9.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7153 vs 783
Around 81% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3608 vs 1990

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1583 vs 903
PassMark - CPU mark	7153 vs 783
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608 vs 1990

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon X2 4850e

2.9x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 80% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1198 vs 665

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1198 vs 665

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-990X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon X2 4850e

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1583

903

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

7153

783

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

665

1198

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3608

1990

Name	Intel Core i7-990X	AMD Athlon X2 4850e
PassMark - Single thread mark	1583	903
PassMark - CPU mark	7153	783
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665	1198
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608	1990
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-990X	AMD Athlon X2 4850e
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Brisbane
Launch date	February 2011	March 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,104
Place in performance rating	2157	2167
Price now	$349.99
Processor Number	i7-990X
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	7.65
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.46 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm2	126 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12
Transistor count	1170 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 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)