Intel Core i7-990X vs AMD Phenom II X3 B73

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-990X and AMD Phenom II X3 B73 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 Phenom II X3 B73

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
3 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 3
Around 33% higher clock speed: 3.73 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 43% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1574 vs 1100
4.3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7119 vs 1671

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs October 2009
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 3
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1574 vs 1100
PassMark - CPU mark	7119 vs 1671

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X3 B73

Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-990X
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X3 B73

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1574

1100

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

7119

1671

Name	Intel Core i7-990X	AMD Phenom II X3 B73
PassMark - Single thread mark	1574	1100
PassMark - CPU mark	7119	1671
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-990X	AMD Phenom II X3 B73
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Heka
Launch date	February 2011	October 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,104	$75
Place in performance rating	2174	2166
Price now	$349.99	$75
Processor Number	i7-990X
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	7.65	10.75
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.46 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)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.73 GHz	2.8 GHz
Number of cores	6	3
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)