i7-5500U vs FX-8120

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Aggregate performance score

FX-8120
2011
8 cores / 8 threads, 125 Watt
4.15
+137%
Core i7-5500U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.75

FX-8120 outperforms Core i7-5500U by a whopping 137% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13952034
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataIntel Core i7
Power efficiency3.1411.03
Architecture codenameZambezi (2011−2012)Broadwell-U (2015)
Release date12 October 2011 (13 years ago)1 March 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$393

Detailed specifications

FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed3.1 GHz2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz3 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cache384 KB64K (per core)
L2 cache8192 KB256K (per core)
L3 cache8192 KB4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size315 mm282 mm2
Maximum core temperature61 °C105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data105 °C
Number of transistors1,200 million1300 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-
P0 Vcore voltageMin: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 Vno data

Compatibility

Information on FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U 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 configuration11
SocketAM3+FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)125 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Responseno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection-+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data16 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 5500
Max video memoryno data16 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data950 MHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3840x2160@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U.

PCIe versionn/a2.0
PCI Express lanesno data12

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

FX-8120 4.15
+137%
i7-5500U 1.75

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

FX-8120 6594
+137%
i7-5500U 2786

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

FX-8120 412
i7-5500U 880
+114%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

FX-8120 1526
i7-5500U 1687
+10.6%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.15 1.75
Recency 12 October 2011 1 March 2015
Physical cores 8 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 125 Watt 15 Watt

FX-8120 has a 137.1% higher aggregate performance score, and 300% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i7-5500U, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 733.3% lower power consumption.

The FX-8120 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-5500U in performance tests.

Note that FX-8120 is a desktop processor while Core i7-5500U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between FX-8120 and Core i7-5500U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD FX-8120
FX-8120
Intel Core i7-5500U
Core i7-5500U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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