A6-9500 vs Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.97
+389%

i7-3970X Extreme Edition outperforms A6-9500 by a whopping 389% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking10412246
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.682.62
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEno data
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
Release date12 November 2012 (11 years ago)27 July 2017 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$64
Current price$690 $36 (0.6x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

A6-9500 has 285% better value for money than i7-3970X Extreme Edition.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads122
Base clock speedno data3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus support5 GT/sno data
L2 cache1,536 KB1024 KB
L3 cache15 MB0 KB
Chip lithography32 nm28 nm
Die sizeno data246 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data90 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data74 °C
Number of transistorsno data1,178 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
Socketno dataAM4
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

AES-NI++
FMAno data+
AVX++
FRTCno data1
FreeSyncno data1
PowerTuneno data+
TrueAudiono data+
PowerNowno data+
PowerGatingno data+
VirusProtectno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 are enumerated here.

AMD-Vno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4-2400
Maximum memory size64 GBno data
Max memory channelsno data2

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataAMD Radeon R5 Graphics
iGPU core countno data6
Endurono data+
UVDno data+
VCEno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 integrated GPUs.

DisplayPortno data+
HDMIno data+

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno dataDirectX® 12
Vulkanno data1

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500.

PCIe version2.003.0
PCI Express lanes408

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.97 1.22
Recency 12 November 2012 27 July 2017
Physical cores 6 2
Threads 12 2
Chip lithography 32 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 65 Watt

The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the A6-9500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and A6-9500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
AMD A6-9500
A6-9500

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Community ratings

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4 27 votes

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2.9 176 votes

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Questions & comments

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