Intel Core i7-3770K vs Intel Core i7-3960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3770K and Intel Core i7-3960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3770K

  • CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
  • Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 67.4°C vs 66.8°C
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
  • Around 69% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • Around 15% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2072 vs 1799
  • Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 867 vs 821
  • 3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 83.411 vs 27.376
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 8 April 2012 vs November 2011
Maximum core temperature 67.4°C vs 66.8°C
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 77 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2072 vs 1799
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 867 vs 821
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 83.411 vs 27.376

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
  • 4 more threads: 12 vs 8
  • Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 88% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 32 GB
  • Around 31% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8445 vs 6466
  • Around 45% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 3395
  • 2.6x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 5484 vs 2122
  • Around 31% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 6.358 vs 4.87
  • Around 20% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.727 vs 0.606
  • Around 26% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.924 vs 2.325
  • Around 26% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.797 vs 6.205
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Number of threads 12 vs 8
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) vs 1024 KB
L3 cache 15360 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB
Maximum memory size 64 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 8445 vs 6466
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4933 vs 3395
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 5484 vs 2122
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 6.358 vs 4.87
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.727 vs 0.606
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.924 vs 2.325
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.797 vs 6.205

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3770K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2072
1799
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
6466
8445
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
867
821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
3395
4933
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
2122
5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.87
6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
83.411
27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.606
0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.325
2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
6.205
7.797
Name Intel Core i7-3770K Intel Core i7-3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2072 1799
PassMark - CPU mark 6466 8445
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 867 821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3395 4933
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2122 5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.87 6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 83.411 27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.606 0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.325 2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 6.205 7.797
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 2356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 2356

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-3770K Intel Core i7-3960X

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Sandy Bridge E
Launch date 8 April 2012 November 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $294 $861
Place in performance rating 2063 2065
Price now $247.99 $799.99
Processor Number i7-3770K i7-3960X
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 11.31 4.64
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.50 GHz 3.30 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI2
Die size 160 mm 435 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 1024 KB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8192 KB 15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 67 °C 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 67.4°C 66.8°C
Maximum frequency 3.90 GHz 3.90 GHz
Number of cores 4 6
Number of threads 8 12
Transistor count 1400 million 2270 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range 0.6V-1.35V

Memory

Max memory channels 2 4
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s 51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 64 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600 DDR3 1066/1333/1600

Graphics

Device ID 0x162
Graphics base frequency 650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.15 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.15 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 3
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm 52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 77 Watt 130 Watt
Thermal Solution 2011D

Peripherals

PCI Express revision 3.0 2.0
PCIe configurations up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes 40

Security & Reliability

Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Smart Response technology

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)