Comparison between AMD Athlon X4 970 and Intel Core i7-5960X
AMD Athlon X4 970 is manufactured by AMD, while Intel Core i7-5960X is manufactured by Intel.
AMD Athlon X4 970 has a higher base speed of 3.8 GHz compared to Intel Core i7-5960X's 3.0 GHz.
AMD Athlon X4 970 has a higher turbo speed of 4.0 GHz compared to Intel Core i7-5960X's 3.5 GHz.
Intel Core i7-5960X has more cores (8) compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's 4 cores.
Intel Core i7-5960X supports more threads (16) compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's threads.
Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop.
AMD Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4 socket, while Intel Core i7-5960X uses the LGA2011-v3 socket.
AMD Athlon X4 970 was launched in Q4 2023, while Intel Core i7-5960X was launched in Q3 2014.
Intel Core i7-5960X has a larger L3 cache of 20 MB compared to AMD Athlon X4 970's MB.
Specification Summary
The AMD Athlon X4 970 and Intel Core i7-5960X are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:
Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by AMD.
Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has a base speed of 3.8 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-5960X runs at 3.0 GHz.
Turbo Boost: The AMD Athlon X4 970 supports a turbo speed of 4.0 GHz, compared to 3.5 GHz for the Intel Core i7-5960X.
Cores: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i7-5960X has 8 cores.
Threads: The AMD Athlon X4 970 supports threads, compared to 16 threads for the Intel Core i7-5960X.
Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
Socket: The AMD Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4, while the Intel Core i7-5960X uses the LGA2011-v3.
Launch Date: The AMD Athlon X4 970 was launched on Q4 2023, while the Intel Core i7-5960X was released on Q3 2014.
L3 Cache: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has MB of L3 cache, compared to 20 MB for the Intel Core i7-5960X.
Detailed Specifications:
Specs
AMD Athlon X4 970
Intel Core i7-5960X
Manufacturer
AMD
Intel
Speed
3.8 GHz
3.0 GHz
Turbo
4.0 GHz
3.5 GHz
Cores
4
8
Threads
16
Class
Desktop
Desktop
Socket
AM4
LGA2011-v3
Launched
Q4 2023
Q3 2014
L3 Cache
MB
20 MB
Review:
Single Core Performance:
CPU Performance in single-threaded applications
AMD Athlon X4 970:
26%
Intel Core i7-5960X:
33%
* More is Better
Multi Core Performance:
CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications
AMD Athlon X4 970
5%
Intel Core i7-5960X:
18%
* More is Better
Power Efficiency:
Power Consumption of CPU under full load
AMD Athlon X4 970: 65 watts
16.25%
Intel Core i7-5960X: 140 watts
35%
* Lower is Better
Launched Date:
Time when the CPU was launched
AMD Athlon X4 970 : Q4 2023 ✅
Intel Core i7-5960X : Q3 2014 ✅
* Newer is Better
CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:
CPU Final Rating Ratings
AMD Athlon X4 970
Intel Core i7-5960X
Pro's and Con's
AMD Athlon X4 970 – Pros and Cons
Pros:
Newer Release: The AMD Athlon X4 970 was launched more recently (Q4 2023) compared to the Intel Core i7-5960X (Q3 2014). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.
Higher Base Clock Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has a higher base clock speed of 3.8 GHz compared to the Intel Core i7-5960X's 3.0 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 970 supports a higher turbo boost speed of 4.0 GHz compared to the Intel Core i7-5960X's 3.5 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
Higher CPU Mark Score: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has a higher CPU Mark score of NA compared to the Intel Core i7-5960X's 61.04. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.
Cons:
Fewer Cores: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has 4 cores, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-5960X's 8 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
Fewer Threads: The AMD Athlon X4 970 has threads, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-5960X's 16 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD Athlon X4 970 scores 3472, which is lower than the Intel Core i7-5960X's score of 12758. This makes the Intel Core i7-5960X a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.
Intel Core i7-5960X – Pros and Cons
Pros:
Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 1989, the Intel Core i7-5960X outperforms the AMD Athlon X4 970 (score: 1616). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
Larger L3 Cache: The Intel Core i7-5960X features a larger L3 cache of 20MB compared to the AMD Athlon X4 970's MB. A larger cache improves performance in memory-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, by reducing latency and speeding up data access.
Cons:
Higher Power Consumption: The Intel Core i7-5960X has a higher TDP of 140W compared to the AMD Athlon X4 970's 65W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.
Productivity
AMD Athlon X4 970
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease.
It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.
Intel Core i7-5960X
This cpu Handles Mid Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease.
It can also be used for Mid Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.
Gaming
AMD Athlon X4 970
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.
Intel Core i7-5960X
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.
Verdict
AMD Athlon X4 970
The AMD Athlon X4 970 is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.
Intel Core i7-5960X
The Intel Core i7-5960X is a reliable and Mid Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Mid Level computing needs or those building a New PC.
