AMD FX-8320E

The AMD FX-8320E is an 8-core, 8-thread desktop processor from AMD, built on the Piledriver architecture with the Vishera codename and released on September 1, 2014 with a launch MSRP of $147. It is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process, contains 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die, and is now end-of-life. The database places its average benchmark score at 1059, which corresponds to the 29th percentile of all CPUs.

Benchmark Performance

The Geekbench multi-core score for the FX-8320E is 1681, while its Geekbench single-core score is 437. The average benchmark score across the database is 1059, which puts this chip at the 29th percentile of all CPUs. That overall placement is modest, and the single-core figure is noticeably lower than the multi-core figure, indicating a processor built around parallel throughput rather than raw single-thread speed.

Looking at the nearest rivals, the FX-8320E is essentially tied with a small cluster of competing parts. The Intel Xeon E5620 has an average score of 1059 and a deltaPct of 0, meaning the FX-8320E and that Xeon are exactly level in average benchmark performance. The Intel Core i3-4360 has an average score of 1060 and is 0.1% ahead of the FX-8320E. The Intel Core i3-7100 has an average score of 1061 and is also 0.1% ahead. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE has an average score of 1061 and is 0.2% ahead. These deltas are extremely small, so in average database terms, the FX-8320E sits in a narrow performance band where none of its immediate rivals has a meaningful lead.

The multi-core Geekbench result of 1681 is substantially higher than the single-core result of 437. That split is the central story of this processor: it can deliver a much stronger result when all eight threads are active, but its per-thread performance is limited. The 29th percentile overall ranking reflects the fact that many CPUs, including some with fewer cores, overtake it in average score because average score is not dominated by a single workload type.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 95. This is a 95W-class desktop part. With eight cores, a 32 nm process, a 315 mm² die, and 1,200 million transistors, thermal density is a consideration, but the 95W TDP still places the FX-8320E in the range that a capable air cooler can handle. The base clock is 3.20 and the boost clock is 4.00, and that boost behavior operates within the same 95W envelope.

The cooling tier implied here is mainstream tower-style air cooling. There is nothing in the TDP or the platform that demands exotic liquid cooling; a competent air cooler is enough to keep the FX-8320E in check under sustained multi-threaded load. The unlocked multiplier means overclocking is possible, but the 95W TDP is the stated design limit, so any overclock pushes beyond that class. The AM3+ platform itself often used substantial socket coolers, and for a 95W part a standard aftermarket tower cooler is the practical recommendation. ECC memory is not supported, and integrated graphics are a chipset feature on certain motherboards rather than an on-die component, so graphics and thermals are handled separately from the CPU itself.

How It Compares

Intel Xeon E5620: The FX-8320E and the Xeon E5620 have the same average score of 1059, with a deltaPct of 0. In overall benchmark terms, the two are exactly matched. This is notable because the FX-8320E is an eight-thread desktop chip, while the comparison is purely score-based and shows no separation.

Intel Core i3-4360: The i3-4360 has an average score of 1060 and leads the FX-8320E by 0.1%. That is a negligible margin in practical terms. The FX-8320E’s multi-core Geekbench score of 1681 does not translate into a higher average score because the single-core result of 437 pulls the overall number down.

Intel Core i3-7100: The i3-7100 averages 1061, which is 0.1% ahead of the FX-8320E. Again, the gap is tiny. In pure average-score terms, the FX-8320E is effectively interchangeable with this rival, despite being a different generation and architecture.

AMD Opteron 4376 HE: The Opteron 4376 HE also averages 1061, putting it 0.2% ahead of the FX-8320E. This is the largest delta in the nearest rival group, but it is still less than a full percentage point. The two AMD parts are close enough that benchmark variance would likely overshadow the difference in real use.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the AMD FX-8320E use?

A: It uses AMD Socket AM3+.

Q: What memory support is available?

A: It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the FX-8320E include integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature; the processor itself is not listed as having an integrated GPU.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked, which allows overclocking on AM3+ motherboards.

Q: What are its benchmark scores?

A: Geekbench multi-core is 1681, Geekbench single-core is 437, and the average benchmark score is 1059, placing it at the 29th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: When was it released and is it still in production?

A: It was released on September 1, 2014, and its production status is end-of-life.

Platform and Compatibility

The FX-8320E is built for AMD Socket AM3+ and supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel memory bus. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s, and ECC memory is not supported. PCIe support is Gen 2. Integrated graphics are not built into the chip but can be provided by certain motherboards as a chipset feature. The part number is FD832EWMW8KHKFD832EWMHKBOX, identifying the retail boxed product. The multiplier is unlocked, so the user has overclocking control on compatible AM3+ boards.

Because the production status is end-of-life, platform compatibility is tied to existing AM3+ motherboards and DDR3 memory. The memory support and PCIe Gen 2 interface are older-generation traits, so this is not a path to current-platform features. The processor has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. For an end-of-life AM3+ part, the practical upgrade path is limited to other processors that fit that socket, and the FX-8320E already offers eight threads within that platform.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Geekbench multi-core score of 1681 is much higher than the Geekbench single-core score of 437. This is a clear sign that the FX-8320E is heavily weighted toward multi-threaded workloads. With eight cores and eight threads, it can offer solid throughput when software is written to use multiple threads. The single-core score, by contrast, is the weak point: applications that depend on one or two fast threads will not benefit from the processor’s full eight-thread capacity.

In lightweight desktop tasks, the 437 single-core score will be the limiting factor. In rendering, encoding, or other parallel workloads, the 1681 multi-core score is what matters. The average benchmark score of 1059 sits between those two figures, and the 29th percentile overall ranking reflects that mixed picture. The FX-8320E is not a fast single-threaded processor by the data, but it is a capable multi-threaded part within its narrow rival group. The behavior makes it best suited to workloads that can scale across many threads, rather than tasks that demand maximum responsiveness from one core.