Intel Core i7 Vs. AMD Phenom II X6

Both Intel and AMD have taken power computing to a whole new level, with the launch of six core processors in the form of AMD Phenom X6 and Intel i7 980X. If you are a power user, shopping for the best processor, you will eventually end up comparing the top processor lines of AMD and Intel, which are the AMD Phenom II X6 and core i7 lines respectively.

The battle between AMD and Intel rages on, with both chip giants developing new technologies, that boost the product performance beyond existing limits. While Intel seems to be ahead right now, due to the major technological improvements in chip processing that have helped it deliver the fastest processors on the planet right now, AMD is not far behind and competes with its comparatively low prices.

Intel i7 Vs. AMD Phenom II X6 Comparison

What does one look for when comparing computer processors? One of the most important comparison parameters is the maximum clocking frequency achieved by them, which determines the speed with which they will process applications. Besides the clocking frequency, you should compare the number of cores made available in the processor, as it decides how many parallel programming threads are processed. More the cores, faster is the processor and better at multitasking. If you are into overclocking of CPUs, the CPU multiplier, maximum operating voltage and maximum operating temperature also matters. Memory bandwidth and L3 cache size also affects the performance speed.

Specifications	Intel Core i7 980X	AMD Phenom II X6 (1100T)
Processor Clocking Frequency	3.3 GHz (3.6 GHz With Turbo Boost)	3.3 GHz (3.6 GHz with TurboCore)
Number of Cores	6	6
L3 Cache Size	12 MB	6 MB
L2 Cache Size	6 256 KB	6 x 512 KB
CPU Multiplier	25X	16X
Voltage Range	0.8-1.375 V	1.0 - 1.475 V
Maximum Temperature	67.9C	62C
Power Output	130 W	125 W
Lithography	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum Memory Bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Price	$999.00	$239.99

As the above numbers make it clear, in terms of specifications, the Intel core i7 980X is the best processor in the market today. The higher L3 cache size, higher memory bandwidth, along with the superior Intel Turbo Boost, as well as virtualization technologies at work, the core i7 980X is certainly superior to its AMD counterpart. However, as far as price is concerned, AMD is the clear winner as its cost is almost one-fourth of the core i7 980x price. Clearly, the Intel product is designed for power users, who need high performance speeds. This high-end line has the best processors ever manufactured on Earth.

So which one would you go for - Intel i7 or AMD Phenom II X6? The low cost alternative among the two is obviously AMD Phenom II X6, but it cannot match the performance speeds that the core i7 980X offers. However, as discussed before, the differences between the two processors will only be noticeable to high-end users, who are into high-end graphic intensive and simulation applications. I suggest that you go for the core i7 processor if you are into gaming and run heavy duty applications that test processor performance to the limits. Otherwise, the AMD Phenom II X6 is a great choice for the average user, who needs it for basic applications like word processing, web browsing, watching movies and listening to songs, while also serving the requirements of gamers and people into video editing. Phenom II X6 grants phenomenal computing power at low cost, which may be overkill for the average computer user. Still, if you are looking for raw and robust computing power at your disposal and don't want to settle for anything less than the best, go for the Intel core i7 line.