Intel Core i7-3960X vs MediaTek Helio A20

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-3960X CPU1 vs CPU2 MediaTek Helio A20
Intel Core i7-3960X MediaTek Helio A20

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i7-3960X and the MediaTek Helio A20 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i7-3960X 6 core processor released in Q4/2011 with the MediaTek Helio A20 which has 4 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2020.
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24) Family Mediatek Helio (37)
Intel Core i 3000X (4) CPU group MediaTek Helio A20/A25 (2)
3 Generation 2
Sandy Bridge E Architecture Cortex-A53 / Cortex-A53
Desktop / Server Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-3960X is a 6 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.30 GHz (3.90 GHz). The processor can compute 12 threads at the same time. The MediaTek Helio A20 clocks with 1.80 GHz, has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic MediaTek Helio A20
6 Cores 4
12 Threads 4
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading No
Yes Overclocking ? No
3.30 GHz Frequency 1.80 GHz
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) --
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) --

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic MediaTek Helio A20
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

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 PowerVR GE8300
GPU frequency 0.55 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
Technology 20 nm
Max. displays 1
-- Compute units 1
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory 2 GB
-- DirectX Version 10

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 PowerVR GE8300
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 Decode / Encode
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 64 GB of memory in a maximum of 4 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i7-3960X, while the MediaTek Helio A20 supports a maximum of 3 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic MediaTek Helio A20
DDR3-1600 Memory LPDDR4X-1600, LPDDR3-933
64 GB Max. Memory 3 GB
4 (Quad Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
51.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 12.8 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache --
15.00 MB L3 Cache --
2.0 PCIe version --
40 PCIe lanes --
20.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i7-3960X has a TDP of 130 W. The TDP of the MediaTek Helio A20 is --. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic MediaTek Helio A20
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) --
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-3960X has 15.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 32 nm. The cache of MediaTek Helio A20 is at 0.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 12 nm.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic MediaTek Helio A20
32 nm Technology 12 nm
Monolithic Chip design Chiplet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8-A (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions --
LGA 2011 Socket --
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping) Virtualization None
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Android
Q4/2011 Release date Q2/2020
970 $ Release price --
show more data show more data


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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:
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Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 (21%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 (11%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
804 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
148 (18%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
4973 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
522 (10%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
736 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
173 (24%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
3488 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
476 (14%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
8454 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
714 (8%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
@ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
PowerVR GE8300 @ 0.55 GHz
35 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.30 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
90326 (100%)

AnTuTu 8 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 8 Benchmark measures the performance of a SoC. AnTuTu benchmarks the CPU, GPU, Memory as well as the UX (User Experience) by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu can benchmark any ARM CPU that runs under Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly compareable if the benchmark has been performed under different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 8 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The evaluation consists of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the RAM and the performance of the internal graphics.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.30 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
79352 (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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.30 GHz
2643 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
159 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
0 (0%)

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.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
1158 (100%)
MediaTek Helio A20 MediaTek Helio A20
4C 4T @ 1.80 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-3960X MediaTek Helio A20
Unknown Unknown

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