AMD FX-4100 vs Intel Core i7-3960X

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


AMD FX-4100 CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Core i7-3960X
AMD FX-4100 Intel Core i7-3960X

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the AMD FX-4100 and the Intel Core i7-3960X and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the AMD FX-4100 4 core processor released in Q4/2011 with the Intel Core i7-3960X which has 6 CPU cores and was introduced in Q4/2011.
AMD FX (30) Family Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24)
AMD FX-4100/4200 (5) CPU group Intel Core i 3000X (4)
1 Generation 3
Zambezi (Bulldozer) Architecture Sandy Bridge E
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The AMD FX-4100 is a 4 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.60 GHz (3.80 GHz). The processor can compute 4 threads at the same time. The Intel Core i7-3960X clocks with 3.30 GHz (3.90 GHz), has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel.

AMD FX-4100 Characteristic Intel Core i7-3960X
4 Cores 6
4 Threads 12
normal Core architecture normal
No Hyperthreading Yes
Yes Overclocking ? Yes
3.60 GHz Frequency 3.30 GHz
3.80 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) 3.90 GHz
3.80 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) 3.90 GHz

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

AMD FX-4100 Characteristic Intel Core i7-3960X
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
GPU frequency --
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
Technology
Max. displays
-- Compute units --
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory --
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 No
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC No
No Codec VC-1 No
No Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the AMD FX-4100, while the Intel Core i7-3960X supports a maximum of 64 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s enabled.

AMD FX-4100 Characteristic Intel Core i7-3960X
DDR3-1866 Memory DDR3-1600
Max. Memory 64 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 4 (Quad Channel)
29.9 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 51.2 GB/s
Yes ECC No
-- L2 Cache --
8.00 MB L3 Cache 15.00 MB
-- PCIe version 2.0
-- PCIe lanes 40
-- PCIe Bandwidth 20.0 GB/s

Thermal Management

The AMD FX-4100 has a TDP of 95 W. The TDP of the Intel Core i7-3960X is 130 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

AMD FX-4100 Characteristic Intel Core i7-3960X
95 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 130 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The AMD FX-4100 has 8.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 32 nm. The cache of Intel Core i7-3960X is at 15.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 32 nm.

AMD FX-4100 Characteristic Intel Core i7-3960X
32 nm Technology 32 nm
Unknown Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
AM3+ Socket LGA 2011
AMD-V Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping)
Yes AES-NI Yes
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q4/2011 Release date Q4/2011
90 $ Release price 970 $
show more data show more data


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Here you can rate the AMD FX-4100 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 1.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Intel Core i7-3960X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
AMD FX-4100 (58%)
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
AMD FX-4100 (33%)
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
469 (58%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
804 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
1294 (26%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
4973 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
4051 (48%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
8454 (100%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.60 GHz
636 (24%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.30 GHz
2643 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
736 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
3488 (100%)

Blender 2.81 (bmw27)

Blender is a free 3D graphics software for rendering (creating) 3D bodies, which can also be textured and animated in the software. The Blender benchmark creates predefined scenes and measures the time (s) required for the entire scene. The shorter the time required, the better. We selected bmw27 as the benchmark scene.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
1776.4 (100%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
159 (100%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
AMD FX-4100 AMD FX-4100
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
1158 (100%)

Devices using this processor

AMD FX-4100 Intel Core i7-3960X
Unknown Unknown

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