AMD Athlon X4 840 vs Intel Core i7-960 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel Core i7-960 across every Cinebench test in the comparison. The AMD Athlon X4 840 did not win a single benchmark in this head-to-head set. The closest margin appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Intel part leads by 1.2 percent (170 versus 168). The widest gaps are in the multi-core tests, with the Intel chip ahead by 1.8 percent in both Cinebench R20 multi-core (1211 versus 1189) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2885 versus 2833). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 1.7 percent lead for Intel (290 versus 285), and Cinebench R23 single-core also shows a 1.7 percent gap (407 versus 400).

These deltas are small enough that the two processors occupy nearly the same performance class. The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i7-960 is 993, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 sits at 975, a difference of roughly 1.8 percent in overall database scoring. The percentile rankings reinforce this: the Intel chip lands at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, and the AMD part at the 26th. In practical terms, the data indicates the Intel Core i7-960 is consistently the faster chip, but by a margin that would be difficult to notice in most everyday workloads.

The single-core results are particularly telling. The Intel Core i7-960 scores 170 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 407 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 scores 168 and 400 respectively. The Intel chip's single-thread advantage is roughly 1.2 to 1.7 percent depending on the test version. This is a modest edge, but it is present in every measurement.

Multi-core scaling also favors Intel, but only slightly. In Cinebench R15, the Intel chip's 290 versus 285 represents a 1.7 percent advantage. In R20 multi-core, the gap is 1211 versus 1189 (1.8 percent), and in R23 multi-core, 2885 versus 2833 (1.8 percent). The Intel Core i7-960 does have twice the thread count (8 threads versus 4), yet its multi-core advantage is no larger than its single-core advantage. This suggests the AMD part's architectural efficiency in this workload partially compensates for its lack of simultaneous multithreading.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-960 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, so the use-case split is straightforward: the Intel chip is the pick for any Cinebench-style rendering workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. Its margins are consistent, ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 percent, and it holds the advantage in both the multi-core and single-core categories.

The AMD Athlon X4 840 has no recorded wins in this comparison. However, the data does not show it being dramatically outpaced anywhere. Its closest result is the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it trails by just 1.2 percent. In the multi-core tests, it trails by 1.7 to 1.8 percent. The AMD chip also carries a significantly lower TDP (65 watts versus 130 watts), which is a meaningful operational difference even if it is not a benchmark score. The AMD part is also socketed for FM2+ and has an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel chip lacks.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench output, the Intel Core i7-960 is the clear winner in every measured category. For users who weigh power consumption, platform flexibility, or overclocking potential, the AMD Athlon X4 840 offers compensating advantages, but none of those appear as benchmark wins in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 has an average benchmark score of 993, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 scores 975. The Intel part also ranks at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 26th percentile for the AMD chip.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 leads by 1.7 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core (290 versus 285) and by 1.8 percent in both Cinebench R20 multi-core (1211 versus 1189) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2885 versus 2833).

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 840 win any benchmark against the Intel Core i7-960?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i7-960 winning all five Cinebench tests. The AMD part's closest result is a 1.2 percent deficit in Cinebench R20 single-core.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 has 8 threads, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 scores 170 versus 168 in Cinebench R20 single-core (1.2 percent ahead) and 407 versus 400 in Cinebench R23 single-core (1.7 percent ahead).

Q: How do the two processors compare in transistor count and die size?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 840 uses 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, while the Intel Core i7-960 uses 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The AMD part is built on a 28 nm process, and the Intel part on a 45 nm process.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has 4 threads, a base clock of 3.10 GHz, a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, a TDP of 65 watts, and uses the AMD Socket FM2+. The Intel Core i7-960 has 8 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz, a boost clock of 3.47 GHz, a TDP of 130 watts, and uses the Intel Socket 1366.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR3 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel chip uses triple-channel DDR3, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The AMD processor supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor supports PCIe Gen 2. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not.

The AMD Athlon X4 840 was released on 2014-08-11, while the Intel Core i7-960 was released on 2009-10-19. The AMD chip has a part number of AD840XYBJABOXAD840XYBI44JA, and the Intel chip has a part number of SLBEU. Both processors are marked as end-of-life in production status, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Athlon X4 840 is built on the Steamroller architecture with the Kaveri codename, using a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Its cache layout consists of 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The Intel Core i7-960 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process by Intel. It contains 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. Its cache layout is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and neither supports ECC memory.

The process node difference is substantial: 28 nm for the AMD part versus 45 nm for the Intel part. This helps explain the AMD chip's much lower TDP of 65 watts despite a higher transistor count. The Intel chip's additional L3 cache (8 MB shared) provides a structural advantage for workloads that benefit from shared cache, though the benchmark data shows only a modest overall performance edge.

The AMD part belongs to the Athlon (Kaveri) generation, while the Intel part belongs to the Core i7 (Bloomfield) generation. The AMD chip's memory bus is dual-channel, and the Intel chip's is triple-channel. The AMD part's PCIe implementation is Gen 3, while the Intel part is Gen 2. These architectural differences are consistent with the five-year gap in release dates, with the AMD part launching in 2014 and the Intel part in 2009.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-960 for anyone prioritizing Cinebench performance. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins between 1.2 and 1.8 percent, and it holds the higher average benchmark score (993 versus 975) and the higher percentile ranking (27th versus 26th). The Intel chip also offers 8 threads versus 4, a slightly higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 3.10 GHz), and a shared 8 MB L3 cache that the AMD part lacks entirely.

The AMD Athlon X4 840 is the choice when power consumption or platform characteristics matter more than raw Cinebench output. Its 65 watt TDP is half the Intel chip's 130 watt TDP. It also features a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.47 GHz), a newer 28 nm process node, PCIe Gen 3 support, and an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel part does not offer. Its transistor count of 2,411 million is more than three times the Intel chip's 731 million, and it uses a smaller die (245 mm² versus 263 mm²).

The performance gap between the two is real but narrow. The Intel Core i7-960 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, yet the largest single margin is only 1.8 percent. For workloads that are heavily multi-threaded, the Intel chip's extra threads give it a structural advantage, but the AMD part's higher boost clock and newer architecture keep it competitive. The verdict from the database is clear: the Intel Core i7-960 wins the benchmark comparison, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 wins on efficiency and platform flexibility.