Intel Core i7-960 processor review

Intel Core i7-960

Core i7-960 processor released by Intel; release date: October 2009. At the time of release, the processor cost $316. The processor is designed for desktop-computers and based on Bloomfield microarchitecture.

CPU is locked to prevent overclocking. Total number of cores - 4, threads - 8. Maximum CPU clock speed - 3.46 GHz. Maximum operating temperature - 67.9°C. Manufacturing process technology - 45 nm. Cache size: L1 - 64 KB (per core), L2 - 256 KB (per core), L3 - 8192 KB (shared).

Supported memory types: DDR3 800/1066. Maximum memory size: 24 GB.

Supported socket types: FCLGA1366. Maximum number of processors in a configuration - 1. Power consumption (TDP): 130 Watt.

Benchmarks

PassMark
Single thread mark
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
4870
1459
PassMark
CPU mark
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
156834
3347
Geekbench 4
Single Core
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
5311
565
Geekbench 4
Multi-Core
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
36691
2198
3DMark Fire Strike
Physics Score
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
25463
0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Face Detection
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
97.640 mPixels/s
1.115 mPixels/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Ocean Surface Simulation
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
741.453 Frames/s
59.327 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
T-Rex
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
4.623 Frames/s
0.374 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Video Composition
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
49.002 Frames/s
0.395 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Bitcoin Mining
Top 1 CPU
This CPU
218.231 mHash/s
4.942 mHash/s
Name Value
PassMark - Single thread mark 1459
PassMark - CPU mark 3347
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 565
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2198
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection 1.115 mPixels/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation 59.327 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex 0.374 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition 0.395 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining 4.942 mHash/s

Specifications (specs)

Essentials

Architecture codename Bloomfield
Launch date October 2009
Launch price (MSRP) $316
Place in performance rating 2765
Price now $99.99
Processor Number i7-960
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 17.14
Vertical segment Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.20 GHz
Bus Speed 4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size 263 mm2
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
L1 cache 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.46 GHz
Number of cores 4
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 8
Transistor count 731 million
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

Max memory channels 3
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 24 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 800/1066

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1
Package Size 42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 130 Watt

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
Thermal Monitoring

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)