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CPU Charts 2012: 86 Processors From AMD And Intel, Tested
By , Achim Roos,
1. Tom's Hardware: CPU Benchmark Charts, Updated

86 CPUs Benchmarked: 51 From AMD And 35 From Intel

We've been hard at work updating our CPU Charts with a brand new benchmark suite. And, before 2012 comes to a close, we wanted to share the results of no fewer than 86 processors with you. The models we tested range from dual-core budget-oriented chips to eight-core flagships. Fifty-one models come from AMD, and 35 are Intel's.

In this overview, the CPUs are organized by micro-architecture, each covered on its own page. It’s a free-for-all once we hit the benchmarks. At that point, performance is all that matters. Let’s have a look at the contenders:

AMD

AMD CPUs 
Family
FX Processors
A-Series APUsPhenom IIAthlon II
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Architecture and Model Number
Bulldozer
FX-4100
FX-4170
FX-6100
FX-6200
FX-8100
FX-8120
FX-8140
FX-8150
FX-8170
Llano
A6-3650
A6-3670K
A8-3850
A8-3870K

Trinity
A10-5800K
Stars
Phenom II X2 550
Phenom II X2 555
Phenom II X2 560
Phenom II X2 565
Phenom II X3 705e
Phenom II X3 710
Phenom II X3 720
Phenom II X3 740
Phenom II X4 830
Phenom II X4 840
Phenom II X4 905e
Phenom II X4 910e
Phenom II X4 955
Phenom II X4 965
Phenom II X4 970
Phenom II X4 975
Phenom II X4 980
Phenom II X6 1035T
Phenom II X6 1045T
Phenom II X6 1055T
Phenom II X6 1065T
Phenom II X6 1075T
Phenom II X6 1090T
Phenom II X6 1100T
Stars
Athlon II X2 240e
Athlon II X2 250
Athlon II X2 255
Athlon II X2 260
Athlon II X3 425
Athlon II X3 435
Athlon II X3 440
Athlon II X3 445
Athlon II X4 620
Athlon II X4 630
Athlon II X4 635
Athlon II X4 640
Athlon II X4 645


Intel

Intel CPUs
Family
Core (First Generation)
Core (Second Generation) Core (Third Generation)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Architecture and Model Number
Nehalem
Core i3-530
Core i5-661
Core i5-670
Core i5-750
Core i5-750S
Core i5-760
Core i7-860
Core i7-870
Core i7-875K
Core i7-880
Core i7-920
Core i7-930
Core i7-960
Core i7-970
Core i7-975 Extreme Edition
Core i7-980
Core i7-980X
Core i7-990X
Sandy Bridge
Core i5-2300
Core i5-2310
Core i5-2400
Core i5-2400S
Core i5-2500K
Core i5-2500T
Core i7-2600K
Core i7-2700K
Core i7-3930X
Core i7-3960X
Pentium G620
Pentium G630
Pentium G630T
Ivy Bridge
Core i5-3450
Core i5-3470
Core i5-3550
Core i5-3570K
Core i7-3770K

   

2. AMD: Bulldozer

When we set out to create this resource, AMD's FX family of desktop CPUs was still based on Zambezi, which employs the company's Bulldozer architecture. Of course, as we all know now, the Piledriver-based Vishera parts are available, and have been since late October. Worry not; we are in the process of running several more processors based on Piledriver through the same suite of benchmarks, and will be updating the charts soon. If you want to take a look at how the FX-8350, specifically, sizes up to seven other CPUs (including a number of the chips tested in this story), have a look at AMD FX-8350 Review: Does Piledriver Fix Bulldozer's Flaws?

Regardless of whether you're looking at a Bulldozer- or Piledriver-based chip, though, All FX CPUs are manufactured at 32 nm. They all drop into the Socket AM3+ interface. And they all include between 4 and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Naming of the older FX processors is pretty straightforward: FX-41xx comes with two active modules, totaling four integer cores; FX-61xx-series chips employ three modules, comprised of six integer cores; and the FX-81xx family features four modules, for eight integer cores. Piledriver updates these to FX-43xx, FX-63xx, and FX-83xx.

Notice the distinction between modules and cores. Bulldozer is different from more traditional designs in that it only duplicates resources where necessary. So, one module has two integer clusters, but shares a floating-point unit, decoder, and L2 cache. The idea is to balance complexity and performance, achieving better parallelism at any given power level or transistor count.

More information:


Benchmarked AMD Bulldozer CPUs:

FXCode Name
Rev.CPU SocketNumber of CoresClock Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory ControllerTDP
FX-4100Bulldozer
B2AM3+43.6 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-4170BulldozerB2AM3+44.2 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-6100BulldozerB2AM3+63.3 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-6200BulldozerB2AM3+63.8 GHz3 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-8100BulldozerB2AM3+82.8 GHz3 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8120BulldozerB2AM3+83.1 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8140BulldozerB3AM3+83.2 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8150BulldozerB2AM3+83.6 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-8170BulldozerB3AM3+83.9 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
3. AMD: A-Series APUs (Trinity/Llano)

AMD's Fusion initiative sought to combine host processing and graphics resources in the same chip, ideally circumventing the need for separate CPUs and graphics cards in mainstream PCs. In many ways, this is similar to what Intel does with its Sandy and Ivy Bridge architectures, though Intel more heavily emphasizes x86 performance, while AMD's strength is its GPUs.

A disagreement with another vendor led AMD to move away from its Fusion brand and adopt Heterogeneous Systems Architecture, or HSA. The SoCs belonging to both efforts are referred to as APUs (accelerated processing units). 

The first desktop APUs emerged under the code name Llano in 2011, and were manufactured using a 32 nm process. They combined AMD's Stars architecture without L3 cache and its Evergreen graphics design. Second-generation Trinity-based APUs employ the company's most modern Piledriver CPU architecture and its VLIW4 graphics configuration (the same shader arrangement found on Radeon HD 6900-series cards).

More information:


Benchmarked AMD Fusion-Based APUs:

A-Series
Code NameRev.CPU SocketNumber of Cores
Clock Frequency
L2 CacheiGPUMemory Controller
TDP
A6-3650LlanoB0FM142.6 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
444 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A6-3670KLlanoB0FM142.7 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
444 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A8-3850LlanoB0FM142.9 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6550D
600MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A8-3870KLlanoB0FM143.0 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6550D
600MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A10-5800KTrinityA1FM243.8 GHz2 x 2048 KBHD 7660D
800 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
4. AMD: K10 (Stars)

AMD offers a great many multi-core CPUs built using its K10 architecture. The most modern models are sold under the Athlon II and Phenom II brands. The company code-named each unique configuration of cores and cache using stars, so the architecture is also commonly referred to as Stars as well.

Athlon II CPUs entered the market in 2009, manufactured using 45 nm process technology. They include two to four cores and drop into the Socket AM3 interface. Dual-core versions are branded as Athlon II X2, triple-core models are Athlon II X3, and the quad-core versions are sold as Athlon II X4. The Athlon IIs don't have any L3 cache.

In contrast, Phenom IIs do generally come with up to 6 MB of L3 cache, though AMD decided to get tricky and sell a few Phenom IIs with less or no L3 memory. The 45 nm Phenom II line-up is similarly named to indicate core count: from the dual-core Phenom II X2 to the hexa-core Phenom II X6, which was introduced in 2010.

The most modern Phenom IIs (the Thuban-based Phenom II X6 and Zosma-based Phenom II X4) also sport Turbo Core technology, which automatically overclocks up to half of the processor's cores when thermal conditions allow.

More information:


Benchmarked AMD Athlon II CPUs:

Athlon IICode NameRev.CPU Socket
Number of Cores
Clock Frequency
L2 CacheMemory Controller
TDP
Athlon II X2 240eRegorC2AM322.8 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106645 W
Athlon II X2 250RegorC2AM323.0 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X2 255RegorC3AM323.1 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X2 260RegorC3AM323.2 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X3 425RanaC2AM332.7 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 435RanaC2AM332.9 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 440RanaC3AM333.0 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 445RanaC3AM333.1 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 620PropusC2AM342.6 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 630PropusC2AM342.8 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 635PropusC3AM342.9 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 640PropusC3AM343.0 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 645PropusC3AM343.1 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W


Benchmarked AMD Phenom II CPUs:

Phenom IICode NameRev.CPU Socket
Number of Cores
Clock Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory Controller
TDP
Phenom II X2 550CallistoC3AM323.1 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 555CallistoC3AM323.2 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 560CallistoC3AM323.3 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 565CallistoC3AM323.4 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X3 705eHekaC2AM332.5 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X3 710HekaC2AM332.6 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X3 720HekaC2AM332.8 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X3 740HekaC2AM333.0 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 830DenebC3AM342.8 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 840DenebC3AM343.2 GHz4 x 512 KB-integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 905eDenebC2AM342.5 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X4 910eDenebC3AM342.6 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X4 955DenebC3AM343.2 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 965DenebC3AM343.4 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 970DenebC3AM343.5 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 975DenebC3AM343.6 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 980DenebC3AM343.7 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1035TThubanE0AM362.6 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1045TThubanE0AM362.7 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1055TThubanE0AM362.8 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1065TThubanE0AM362.9 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1075TThubanE0AM363.0 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1090TThubanE0AM363.2 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1100TThubanE0AM363.3 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
5. Intel: Nehalem

Intel’s Nehalem architecture is partially based on an advanced Core design. These flexible 45 nm desktop CPUs are available as Core i3, i5, and i7 versions, and include two, four, or six cores.

The first Nehalem-based CPUs hit the market in 2008 under the code name Bloomfield. The quad-core family of CPUs sold as Core i7 and dropped into Intel's LGA 1366 interface. The company followed up with a mainstream incarnation code-named Lynnfield toward the end of 2009. Lynnfield-based chips also sported four cores, but surfaced under the Core i5 Core i7 brands, and leveraged an LGA 1156 interface.

Nehalem at 45 nm was succeeded by Westmere (32 nm) at the beginning of 2010. The architectural update materialized as the dual-core Clarkdale design for mainstream desktops and the hexa-core Gulftown configuration for enthusiasts.

Westmere was replaced by Sandy Bridge in 2011.

More information:


Benchmarked Intel Nehalem-Based CPUs:

NehalemCode NameRev.Manufacturing
Process

SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory
Controller
TDP

Core i3-530

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

2.93 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

73 W

Core i5-661

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

3.33 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

87 W

Core i5-670

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

3.47 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

73 W

Core i5-750

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.67 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i5-750S

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.4 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

82 W

Core i5-760

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-860

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-870

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.93 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-875K

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.93 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-880

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

3.07 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-920

Bloomfield

C1

45 nm

1366

4

2.67 Ghz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-930

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-960

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

3.2 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-970

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.2 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-975

Extreme Edition

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

3.33 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-980

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.33 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-980X

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.33 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-990X

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.47 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

6. Intel: Sandy Bridge

Sandy Bridge does borrow from Nehalem. However, this is a new architecture for Intel, so there are also a lot of new features, including a more advanced HD Graphics component and a ring bus able to feed on-die subsystems faster and more efficiently.

Previously, graphics, PCI Express, and memory control were separate from the processing cores. Now, all of the logic exists on the same piece of silicon, manufactured at 32 nm. Intel maintains the Core i3, i5, and i7 brands, but adjusts its model names to indicate that Sandy Bridge is the second generation of Core processors. Gone is LGA 1156, unfortunately, replaced by the LGA 1155 interface.

Sandy Bridge-based chips can be found with two, four, or six cores. All of the dual- and hexa-core versions, along with some of the quad-core models, have Hyper-Threading enabled, doubling the number of threads that the processor can handle simultaneously. In other words, six-core Sandy Bridge-E-based CPUs juggle up to 12 threads at a time. That sort of complexity imposes hefty power requirements, though: up to 130 W.

Really, most power users don't need those LGA 2011-based chips, since Intel's quad-core products that center on Sandy Bridge have little trouble competing against AMD's six-core Phenom IIs.

More information:


Benchmarked Intel Sandy Bridge-Based CPUs:

Sandy BridgeCode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheiGPUMemory
Controller
TDP
Pentium G620Sandy BridgeQ0115522.6 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MBHD Graphics
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Pentium G630Sandy BridgeQ0115522.7 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MBHD Graphics
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Pentium G630TSandy BridgeQ0115522.3 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MB
HD Graphics
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106635 W
Core i5-2300Sandy BridgeD2115542.8 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2310Sandy BridgeD2115542.9 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2400Sandy BridgeD2115543.1 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2400SSandy BridgeD2115542.5 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i5-2500KSandy BridgeD2115543.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i5-2500TSandy BridgeD2115542.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i7-2600KSandy BridgeD2115543.4 GHz4 x 256 KB8MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1350 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i7-2700KSandy BridgeD2115543.5 GHz4 x 256 KB8 MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1350 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i7-3930KSandy Bridge-EC1201163.2 GHz6 x 256 KB12 MB-integrated up to DDR3-1600130 W
Core i7-3960XSandy Bridge-EC1201163.3 GHz6 x 256 KB12 MB-integrated up to DDR3-1600130 W
7. Intel: Ivy Bridge

Ivy Bridge is Intel's current-generation design. The company's tick-tock cadence establishes a new architecture (the tick), and then follows it up with a updated manufacturing technology (the tock). That way, the next tick is implemented on a mature process, paring back some of the risk associated with transitioning to a significantly-updated architecture.

After the tick that was Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge employs a very similar design on a 22 nm process. Intel maintains its Core i3, i5, and i7 nomenclature, updating the model names to reflect a third generation. Fortunately, Ivy Bridge-based chips drop into the same LGA 1155 interface as the Sandy Bridge-based parts.

Though its x86 cores remain largely the same, Ivy Bridge does offer a more advanced graphics engine, along with a memory controller that officially supports 1,600 MT/s data rates. The unlocked parts boast maximum multipliers of 63x (up from Sandy Bridge's 57x), and the entire line-up includes 16 lanes of PCI Express 3.0 connectivity.

More information:


Benchmarked Intel Ivy Bridge-Based CPUs:

Ivy BridgeCode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheiGPUMemory
Controller
TDP
Core i5-3450Ivy BridgeE1115543.1 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3470Ivy BridgeE1115543.2 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3550Ivy BridgeE1115543.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3570KIvy BridgeE1115543.4 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 4000
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i7-3770KIvy BridgeE1115543.5 GHz4 x 256 KB8 MBHD Graphics 4000
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
8. CPU Charts: AMD Processor Overview

CPU Charts: All AMD Processors

FX-Series
Code Name
Rev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory
Controller
TDP
FX-4100Bulldozer
B2AM3+43.6 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-4170BulldozerB2AM3+44.2 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-6100BulldozerB2AM3+63.3 GHz2 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-6200BulldozerB2AM3+63.8 GHz3 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-8100BulldozerB2AM3+82.8 GHz3 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8120BulldozerB2AM3+83.1 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8140BulldozerB3AM3+83.2 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-186695 W
FX-8150BulldozerB2AM3+83.6 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
FX-8170BulldozerB3AM3+83.9 GHz4 x 2048 KB8 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1866125 W
A-Series
Code NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheiGPUMemory
Controller
TDP
A6-3650LlanoB0FM142.6 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
444 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A6-3670KLlanoB0FM142.7 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
444 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A8-3850LlanoB0FM142.9 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
600MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A8-3870KLlanoB0FM143.0 GHz4 x 1024 KBHD 6530D
600MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W
A10-5800KTrinityA1FM243.8 GHz2 x 2048 KBHD 7660D
800 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-1866100 W


Athlon IICode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheMemory
Controller
TDP
Athlon II X2 240eRegorC2AM322.8 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106645 W
Athlon II X2 250RegorC2AM323.0 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X2 255RegorC3AM323.1 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X2 260RegorC3AM323.2 GHz2 x 64 KBintegrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Athlon II X3 425RanaC2AM332.7 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 435RanaC2AM332.9 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 440RanaC3AM333.0 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X3 445RanaC3AM333.1 GHz3 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 620PropusC2AM342.6 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 630PropusC2AM342.8 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 635PropusC3AM342.9 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 640PropusC3AM343.0 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Athlon II X4 645PropusC3AM343.1 GHz4 x 512 KBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom IICode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory
Controller
TDP
Phenom II X2 550CallistoC3AM323.1 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 555CallistoC3AM323.2 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 560CallistoC3AM323.3 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X2 565CallistoC3AM323.4 GHz2 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133380 W
Phenom II X3 705eHekaC2AM332.5 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X3 710HekaC2AM332.6 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X3 720HekaC2AM332.8 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X3 740HekaC2AM333.0 GHz3 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 830DenebC3AM342.8 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 840DenebC3AM343.2 GHz4 x 512 KB-integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X4 905eDenebC2AM342.5 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X4 910eDenebC3AM342.6 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Phenom II X4 955DenebC3AM343.2 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 965DenebC3AM343.4 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 970DenebC3AM343.5 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 975DenebC3AM343.6 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X4 980DenebC3AM343.7 GHz4 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1035TThubanE0AM362.6 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1045TThubanE0AM362.7 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1055TThubanE0AM362.8 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1065TThubanE0AM362.9 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Phenom II X6 1075TThubanE0AM363.0 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1090TThubanE0AM363.2 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
Phenom II X6 1100TThubanE0AM363.3 GHz6 x 512 KB6 MBintegrated up to DDR3-1333125 W
9. CPU Charts: Intel Processor Overview

CPU Charts: All Intel Processors

NehalemCode NameRev.Manufacturing
Process
SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheMemory
Controller
TDP

Core i3-530

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

2.93 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

73 W

Core i5-661

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

3.33 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

87 W

Core i5-670

Clarkdale

C2

32 nm

1156

2

3.47 GHz

2 x 256 KB

4 MB

on-package up to DDR3-1333

73 W

Core i5-750

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.67 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i5-750S

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.4 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

82 W

Core i5-760

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-860

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-870

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.93 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-875K

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

2.93 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-880

Lynnfield

B1

45 nm

1156

4

3.07 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1333

95 W

Core i7-920

Bloomfield

C1

45 nm

1366

4

2.67 Ghz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-930

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

2.8 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-960

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

3.2 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-970

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.2 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-975 Extreme Edition

Bloomfield

D0

45 nm

1366

4

3.33 GHz

4 x 256 KB

8 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-980

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.33 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-980X

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.33 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W

Core i7-990X

Gulftown

B1

32 nm

1366

6

3.47 GHz

6 x 256 KB

12 MB

integrated up to DDR3-1066

130 W


Sandy BridgeCode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheiGPUMemory
Controller
TDP
Pentium G620Sandy BridgeQ0115522.6 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MBHD Graphics
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Pentium G630Sandy BridgeQ0115522.7 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MBHD Graphics
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106665 W
Pentium G630TSandy BridgeQ0115522.3 GHz2 x 256 KB3 MB
HD Graphics
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-106635 W
Core i5-2300Sandy BridgeD2115542.8 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2310Sandy BridgeD2115542.9 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2400Sandy BridgeD2115543.1 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i5-2400SSandy BridgeD2115542.5 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i5-2500KSandy BridgeD2115543.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i5-2500TSandy BridgeD2115542.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2000
850-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133365 W
Core i7-2600KSandy BridgeD2115543.4 GHz4 x 256 KB8 MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1350 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i7-2700KSandy BridgeD2115543.5 GHz4 x 256 KB8 MBHD Graphics 3000
850-1350 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-133395 W
Core i7-3930KSandy Bridge-EC1201163.2 GHz6 x 256 KB12 MB-integrated up to DDR3-1600130 W
Core i7-3960XSandy Bridge-EC1201163.3 GHz6 x 256 KB12 MB-integrated up to DDR3-1600130 W
Ivy BridgeCode NameRev.SocketNumber of
Cores
Clock
Frequency
L2 CacheL3 CacheiGPUMemory
Controller
TDP
Core i5-3450Ivy BridgeE1115543.1 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3470Ivy BridgeE1115543.2 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3550Ivy BridgeE1115543.3 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 2500
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i5-3570KIvy BridgeE1115543.4 GHz4 x 256 KB6 MBHD Graphics 4000
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
Core i7-3770KIvy BridgeE1115543.5 GHz4 x 256 KB8 MBHD Graphics 4000
650-1100 MHz
integrated up to DDR3-160077 W
10. Benchmark Hardware And Software

Our Benchmark Hardware and Software

Benchmark System Hardware
Hardware
Details
Performance Benchmarks
Socket AM3 Motherboard
Asus M5A99X Evo, Chipset: AMD 990X, BIOS: 1208
Socket FM1 Motherboard
MSI A75MA-G55, Chipset: Intel Z77, BIOS: 1.6b6
LGA 1156 Motherboard
Gigabyte P55A-UD7, Chipset: Intel P55, BIOS: F8b
LGA 1155 Motherboard
Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H Wi-Fi, Chipset: Intel Z77, BIOS: 1504
LGA 1366 Motherboard
MSI Big Bang, Chipset: Intel X58, BIOS: 1.2 (2010-06-18)
LGA 2011 Motherboard
Intel DX79SI, Chipset: Intel X79, BIOS: 0537
DDR3 Memory (Dual-Channel)
2 x 8 GB DDR3-1600 CL10-10-10-27, (Corsair Vengance CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10)
DDR3 Memory (Dual-Channel)2 x 8 GB DDR3-1866 CL10-11-10-30, (G.Skill RipjawsX F3-14900CL10D-16GBXL)
DDR3 Memory (Triple-Channel)
3 x 4 GB Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
DDR3 Memory (Quad-Channel)
4 x 4 GB Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
Graphics
Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 FleX
GPU: Pitcairn (1000 MHz), Graphics RAM: 2048 MB GDDR5 (2400 MT/s), Stream Processors: 1280
System Drive
Samsung PM810, 256 GB, SATA 3Gb/s , MZ5PA256HMDR
Power Supply Unit
Seasonic X-760, SS-760KM Active PFC F3
System Software
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
Drivers and Settings
Graphics Driver
AMD Catalyst 12.8 Suite for Windows 7
Chipset Driver AMD
AMD Catalyst 12.8 Suite for Windows 7
Chipset Driver IntelChipset Installation Utility Ver. 9.3.0.1019
Game Benchmarks and Settings
BenchmarkDetails
Crysis 2Version: 1.9
Video Mode: 1280x720
Game Settings
- Anti-Aliasing none
- Filtering Trilinear
- Wait for vertical sync disabled
- Shader Detail Medium
- Effect Detail Medium
- Model/Texture Detail Medium
Demo: THG Demo 1
Mafia IIVideo Mode: 1024x768
Game Settings
- Anti-Aliasing disabled
- Filtering Anisotropic Trilinear
- Wait for vertical sync disabled
- Shader Detail Medium
- Effect Detail Medium
- Model/Texture Detail Medium
Demo: THG Demo 1
Audio Benchmarks and Settings
BenchmarkDetails
iTunesVersion: 9.0.3.15
Audio CD ("Terminator II" SE), 53 min.
Convert to AAC Audio Format
Lame MP3Version 3.98.3
Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min
Convert wav to mp3 Audio Format
Command: -b 160 --nores (160 Kb/s)
Video Benchmarks and Settings
BenchmarkDetails
HandBrake CLIVersion: 0.98
Video: Video from Canon EOS 7D (1920x1080, 25 frames) 1 Minutes 22 Seconds
Audio: PCM-S16, 48,000 Hz, Two-Channel,
to
Video: AVC1 Audio: AAC (High Profile)
TotalCode Studio 2.5Version: 2.5.0.10677
MPEG2 to H.264
MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec
28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2)
Audio:
MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, Two-Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kb/s)
Codec: H.264 Pro
Mode: PAL 50i (25 FPS)
Profile: H.264 BD HDMV
Application Benchmarks and Settings
BenchmarkDetails
7-ZipVersion: 9.28
LZMA2
Syntax "a -t7z -r -m0=LZMA2 -mx=5"
Benchmark: THG-Workload-2012
WinRARVersion: 4.2
RAR
Syntax "winrar a -r -m3"
Benchmark: THG-Workload-2012
Autodesk 3d Studio Max 2010Version: 10 x64
Rendering Space Flyby Mentalray (SPECapc_3dsmax9)
Frame: 248
Resolution: 1440 x 1080
BlenderVersion: 2.62
Syntax blender -b Helicopter-2.6.1-toms.blend -f 1
Helicopter-2.6.1 (scene-Helicopter-2.6.1.blend)
Frame: 1
Resolution: 1280x720
Threads: Auto-Detect
Cinebench 11.5Version 11.5 Build CB25720DEMO
CPU Test single- and multi-threaded
Adobe After Effects CS5.5Create Video which includes 3 Streams
Frames: 210
Render Multiple Frames Simultaneosly: on
Adobe After Effects CS6Create Video which includes 3 Streams
Frames: 210
Render Multiple Frames Simultaneosly: on
Adobe Premiere Pro CS6Video Length 2 min 21 sec
Export to H.264 Blu-ray
Source 960x720
Output 1280x720
Adobe Photoshop CS 6 (64-Bit) CPUVersion: 13
Filtering a 16 MB TIF (15,000x7266)
Filters:
Radial Blur (Amount: 10; Method: zoom; Quality: good)
Shape Blur (Radius: 46 px; custom shape: Trademark sysmbol)
Median (Radius: 1px)
Polar Coordinates (Rectangular to Polar)
Adobe Acrobat X ProfessionalVersion: 10.0.0 Pro
== Printing Preferenced Menu ==
Default Settings: Standard
== Adobe PDF Security - Edit Menu ==
Encrypt all documents (128 bit RC4)
Open Password: 123
Permissions Password: 321
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010Version: 14.0.4734.1000 (32-bit)
PPT to PDF
Powerpoint Document (115 Pages)
Adobe PDF-Printer
Abbyy FineReaderVersion: 10 Professional Build (10.0.102.82)
Read PDF save to Doc
Source: Political Economy (J. Broadhurst 1842) 111 Pages
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010Compile Miranda in Two Editions
with MSBuild form .NET 4.0.30319
1. Release Unicode Win32
2. Release Unicode x64
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010Compile Chrome Project (1/31/2012)
with devenv.com /build Release
FritzFritz Chess Benchmark Version 4.3.2
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings
BenchmarkDetails
3DMark 11Version: 1.0
PCMark 7Version: 1.04
SiSoftware Sandra 2012Version: 2012.06.18.53
Processor Arithmetic, Cryptography, Memory Bandwith


Benchmark Motherboards and Graphics Card

Asus M5A99X EVO:

MSI A75MA-G55:

Gigabyte P55A-UD7:

Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H Wi-Fi:

MSI Big Bang:

Intel DX79SI:

Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 FleX:

11. PCMark 7

Intel's Sandy and Ivy Bridge-based CPUs clearly dominate in PCMark 7. The only chip from AMD to at least make it into the top range of the field is its Bulldozer-based FX-8170.

12. SiSoftware Sandra 2012

Intel's Sandy Bridge-E-based Core i7-3960X and -3930K lead by a wide margin in almost all of this diagnostic's modules. The only exception is encryption with the SHA-256 Secure Hash Algorithm, where AMD’s Bulldozer FX-8170 exhibits the best performance thanks to its eight integer cores running at high clock rates.

13. Adobe Creative Suite 6

Intel's Sandy Bridge-E, Ivy Bridge, Sandy Bridge, and Nehalem flagships all clearly beat AMD's best efforts in Adobe's Creative Suite. This is especially true in our Acrobat X Professional test, where we're converting a PowerPoint 2010 presentation to PDF format.

The Intel CPUs are grouped together in one large block, while AMD's A10-5800K stands out as the sole example of Piledriver. In this single-threaded workload, it does really well compared to the company's previous-gen parts.

14. Professional Applications

Professional application benchmarks show us a familiar picture. Intel’s Sandy Bridge-E-based Core i7-3930K and Core i7-3960X are in the front, followed by Intel’s Ivy Bridge-, Sandy Bridge-, and Nehalem-based offerings. 

AMD's FX-8170 and FX-8150, based on Bulldozer, come closest to Intel's offerings, but can't quite compete.

15. Audio/Video And File Compression

Intel's Sandy Bridge-E, Sandy Bridge, and Ivy Bridge architectures lead the field again. The company's top-end Nehalem-based processors also hold their own. AMD remains competitive with its Bulldozer-based CPUs, but the design isn't fast enough to earn a top spot in our charts.

16. 3DMark 11 And Games

3DMark 11 is a synthetic gaming benchmark, so its chart should generally be taken with a grain of salt.

In this case, however, it's right on the money compared to our real-world game tests. Intel's CPUs are the way to go for the highest frame rates.


17. Power Consumption

18. No Surprise: Intel Takes The Performance Crown, AMD Represents Value

The raw data makes it pretty clear that Intel's Sandy Bridge, Sandy Bridge-E, Ivy Bridge, and Nehalem micro-architectures are clearly faster than AMD's highest-end models. Even though we're missing Piledriver-based chips right now (again, they're going to be added soon, along with some older Core-based chips), benchmarks we've already run show that the flagship FX-8350 goes up against Intel's Core i5-3570, not its faster Core i7s.

There's no way around it: if outright speed is your top priority, and you have some money to spend, Intel wears the crown. From about $250 to $1050 or so, AMD simply cannot compete. Anything pricier than that and you're out of the desktop market entirely.

The silver lining, of course, is that AMD's FX processors do handle threaded applications fairly well. Even though they use quite a bit of power, a combination of modest performance and low cost is attractive to power users on a budget.

Lower-end Athlon II and Phenom II models are respectable in their own right, too. Depending on the applications you're running, screaming frame rates and lightning-fast transcodes may not be as important. For basic desktop-oriented productivity, you can get away with a dual-core CPU and spend very little. The quad- and hexa-core models are decent performers as well.

As you ascend the hierarchy of speed, each percentage point of performance costs increasingly more. Just look at the difference between a $320 Core i7-3770K and $1030 Core i7-3960X. If you're looking for a sweet spot in Intel's line-up, we're still fans of the Core i5-3570K at $215. The Core i5-3470 at $200 isn't bad either, though an unlocked multiplier ratio on the K-series part is easily worth $15 on its own.

In AMD's line-up, an FX-8320 might be your best bet for a desktop PC with discrete graphics. That's one of the models we plan to add shortly. At $180, it looks like a decent alternative to the FX-8350 at $220 or FX-8150 at $190. If your graphics requirements are more modest, and you don't need to spend extra on an add-in card, the A10-5800K is AMD's one Trinity-based APU that tends to do everything better than the previous generation. Selling for $120, it's good enough to warrant a look.

If power consumption is a major concern, it'd be hard to generalize and recommend one vendor over the other. Intel and AMD both offer low-power parts capable of going easy on your electricity bill. The former has its Sandy Bridge-based Pentium G630, Core i5-2500T, and Core i5-2400S processors that we tested, while the latter has the Athlon II X2 240e and Athlon II X2 250.