🚀 CPU Launch

Intel Core i7-6850K vs AMD Athlon X4 880K

Table of Contents



Overview:

Comparison between Intel Core i7-6850K and AMD Athlon X4 880K

Intel Core i7-6850K is manufactured by Intel, while AMD Athlon X4 880K is manufactured by AMD. AMD Athlon X4 880K has a higher base speed of 4.0 GHz compared to Intel Core i7-6850K's 3.6 GHz. AMD Athlon X4 880K has a higher turbo speed of 4.2 GHz compared to Intel Core i7-6850K's 4.0 GHz. Intel Core i7-6850K has more cores (6) compared to AMD Athlon X4 880K's 4 cores. Intel Core i7-6850K supports more threads (12) compared to AMD Athlon X4 880K's threads.

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. Intel Core i7-6850K uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket, while AMD Athlon X4 880K uses the FM2+ socket. Both CPUs were launched in the same year: Q2 2016. Intel Core i7-6850K has a larger L3 cache of 15 MB compared to AMD Athlon X4 880K's MB.

Specification Summary

The Intel Core i7-6850K and AMD Athlon X4 880K are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

  • Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by Intel.
  • Speed: The Intel Core i7-6850K has a base speed of 3.6 GHz, while the AMD Athlon X4 880K runs at 4.0 GHz.
  • Turbo Boost: The Intel Core i7-6850K supports a turbo speed of 4.0 GHz, compared to 4.2 GHz for the AMD Athlon X4 880K.
  • Cores: The Intel Core i7-6850K has 6 cores, while the AMD Athlon X4 880K has 4 cores.
  • Threads: The Intel Core i7-6850K supports 12 threads, compared to threads for the AMD Athlon X4 880K.
  • Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
  • Socket: The Intel Core i7-6850K uses the FCLGA2011-3, while the AMD Athlon X4 880K uses the FM2+.
  • Launch Date: The Intel Core i7-6850K was launched on Q2 2016, while the AMD Athlon X4 880K was released on Q2 2016.
  • L3 Cache: The Intel Core i7-6850K has 15 MB of L3 cache, compared to MB for the AMD Athlon X4 880K.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs Intel Core i7-6850K AMD Athlon X4 880K
Intel AMD
Manufacturer Intel AMD
Speed 3.6 GHz 4.0 GHz
Turbo 4.0 GHz 4.2 GHz
Cores 6 4
Threads 12
Class Desktop Desktop
Socket FCLGA2011-3 FM2+
Launched Q2 2016 Q2 2016
L3 Cache 15 MB MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:


CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

Intel Core i7-6850K:



40%
AMD Athlon X4 880K:
27%
* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:


CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

Intel Core i7-6850K



16%
AMD Athlon X4 880K:
5%
* More is Better

Power Efficiency:


Power Consumption of CPU under full load

Intel Core i7-6850K: 140 watts



35%
AMD Athlon X4 880K: 95 watts
23.75%
* Lower is Better

Launched Date:


Time when the CPU was launched


Intel Core i7-6850K : Q2 2016 ✅

AMD Athlon X4 880K : Q2 2016 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

Intel Core i7-6850K



AMD Athlon X4 880K


Pro's and Con's

Intel Core i7-6850K – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 2403, the Intel Core i7-6850K outperforms the AMD Athlon X4 880K (score: 1633). 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 i7-6850K features a larger L3 cache of 15MB compared to the AMD Athlon X4 880K'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.
  • Higher CPU Mark Score: The Intel Core i7-6850K has a higher CPU Mark score of 96.15 compared to the AMD Athlon X4 880K's 38.71. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

  • Higher Power Consumption: The Intel Core i7-6850K has a higher TDP of 140W compared to the AMD Athlon X4 880K's 95W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.

AMD Athlon X4 880K – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Higher Base Clock Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 880K has a higher base clock speed of 4.0 GHz compared to the Intel Core i7-6850K's 3.6 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
  • Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 880K supports a higher turbo boost speed of 4.2 GHz compared to the Intel Core i7-6850K's 4.0 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.

Cons:

  • Fewer Cores: The AMD Athlon X4 880K has 4 cores, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-6850K's 6 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
  • Fewer Threads: The AMD Athlon X4 880K has threads, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-6850K's 12 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
  • Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD Athlon X4 880K scores 3663, which is lower than the Intel Core i7-6850K's score of 11442. This makes the Intel Core i7-6850K a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.


Productivity


Intel Core i7-6850K
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.

AMD Athlon X4 880K
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.


Gaming

Intel Core i7-6850K
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.

AMD Athlon X4 880K
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.



Verdict

Intel Core i7-6850K

The Intel Core i7-6850K 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.

AMD Athlon X4 880K

The AMD Athlon X4 880K 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.