Intel Core i5-6300U vs Intel Core i7-2960XM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-6300U and Intel Core i7-2960XM processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-6300U

Intel Core i7-2960XM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-6300U

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 11 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 32 nm
3.7x lower typical power consumption: 15 Watt vs 55 Watt
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1658 vs 1598
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 602 vs 598

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	1 September 2015 vs 3 September 2011
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt vs 55 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1658 vs 1598
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	602 vs 598

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2960XM

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 23% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.00 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 47% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4754 vs 3232
Around 54% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2083 vs 1357

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.00 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB vs 512 KB
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 3 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	4754 vs 3232
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2083 vs 1357

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-6300U
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2960XM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1658

1598

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3232

4754

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

602

598

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1357

2083

Name	Intel Core i5-6300U	Intel Core i7-2960XM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1658	1598
PassMark - CPU mark	3232	4754
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	602	598
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1357	2083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.786
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.326
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.142
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	16.061
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	1489
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1378
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2576
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	1489
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1378
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2576

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-6300U	Intel Core i7-2960XM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Skylake	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	1 September 2015	3 September 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$281	$1,096
Place in performance rating	2032	2022
Processor Number	i5-6300U	i7-2960XM
Series	6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Price now		$409.95
Value for money (0-100)		5.19
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.40 GHz	2.70 GHz
Bus Speed	4 GT/s OPI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	99 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1024 KB
L3 cache	3 MB	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100 °C
Maximum frequency	3.00 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count		995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0x1916
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.00 GHz	1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1 GHz	1.3 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	32 GB
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 520	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
CRT
SDVO
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over VGA	N / A
Max resolution over WiDi	1080p
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down	7.5 W
Configurable TDP-down Frequency	800 MHz
Configurable TDP-up	25 W
Configurable TDP-up Frequency	2.50 GHz
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42mm X 24mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA998)
Sockets supported	FCBGA1356	FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	55 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	12	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x4, 2x2, 1x2+2x1 and 4x1	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Anti-Theft technology
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
4G WiMAX Wireless
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)