Event Coverage

HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2011 Editor's Choice - Part 2

By Team HardwareZone - 4 Mar 2011

Best Desktop CPU

Best Desktop CPU

With both AMD and Intel releasing 6-core processors in 2010, their flagship 6-core processor models represent the best for desktop CPUs and that's where we start our search for the best desktop CPU in 2010. Unfortunately, the difference in CPU architecture between the two platforms means that one finds Intel's US$1000 Core i7-980X Extreme Edition going against AMD's US$229 Phenom II X6 1090T 'Black Edition'.

Nominees:

  • Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition
  • AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 'Black Edition'

And the Winner Is...

The best desktop of 2010 deservedly goes to the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition.

Like the previous year, it's a mismatch of epic proportions, as the Intel processor is not only significantly more costly, it actually lives up to its price tag with a performance level beyond that of AMD. Whether one considers a system suite benchmark like SYSmark 2007 or a multi-threaded benchmark like Cinebench 10, the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition was dominant. If you need any more persuasion, here are three selected benchmarks and how the two processors fared head-to-head.

Selected CPU Benchmarks
Benchmark/Processor Model AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 'Black Edition' Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition
SYSmark 2007 183 212
Cinebench 10 14479 21989
Crysis 1.1 54.26 fps 121.92 fps

Even accounting for other factors like power consumption and overclocking, the Intel processor was definitely the stronger contender and deservedly gets our nod for the best desktop CPU in 2010. The table below illustrates how the two processors fared in our various criteria, ranging from performance to value. The prices quoted are the figures at the time of the review.

Scoring Breakdown
Criteria/Model AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 'Black Edition' Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition
Performance 7.5 9.0
Features 8.0 8.5
Value 8.0 6.5
Overall 7.5 8.5
Price US$229 US$999

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

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