AMD FX-8150 vs. Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K CPU Review

How We Tested

During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. Between our benchmarking sessions the only variable device was the CPU being tested and the motherboard, which had to be replaced to match the different CPU sockets.

Hardware Configuration

• Motherboard (Socket AM3+): ASUS Crosshair V Formula (0813 BIOS)
• Motherboard (Socket LGA1155): MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3) (17.3 BIOS)
• CPU Cooler: Intel/AMD stock
• Memory: 4 GB DDR3-1866, two G.Skill Ripjaws XF3-14900CL9D-4GBXL memory modules
• Hard Disk Drive: Western Digital Black Caviar 1 TB (WD1001FALS, SATA-300, 7,200 rpm, 32 MB buffer)
• Video Card: Radeon HD 6970
• Video Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 305T Plus
• Power Supply: Antec TruePower New 750 W

Operating System Configuration

• Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
• NTFS
• Video resolution: 2560×1600 60 Hz

Driver Versions

• AMD video driver version: Catalyst 11.10
• AMD chipset driver version: 3.0.816.0
• Intel Inf chipset driver version: 9.2.0.1030

Software Used

• 3DMark 11 1.0.2
• Adobe After Effects CS4
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended + GamingHeaven Photoshop Benchmark V3
• Cinebench 11.529
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution
• DiRT3
• Lost Planet 2
• iTunes 10.2
• Media Espresso 6.5
• PCMark 7 1.0.4
• Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty – Patch 1.3.4
• VirtualDub 1.9.5 + MPEG-2 Plugin 3.1 + DivX 6.9.2
• WinZip 15.5

Error Margin

We adopted a 3% error margin. Thus, differences below 3% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 3% should be considered as having similar performance.