Intel Core i7-3930K vs Intel Core i7-3960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3930K and Intel Core i7-3960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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).

Intel Core i7-3930K

Intel Core i7-3960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3930K

2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 65.02 vs 27.376
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.735 vs 0.727
Around 7% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 3.141 vs 2.924

Specifications (specs)
Maximum memory size	64.23 GB vs 64 GB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	65.02 vs 27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.735 vs 0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	3.141 vs 2.924

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1788 vs 1742
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8425 vs 8205
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 787
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 4610
Around 9% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 5484 vs 5049
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 6.358 vs 6.321
Around 6% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.797 vs 7.34

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 12288 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1788 vs 1742
PassMark - CPU mark	8425 vs 8205
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821 vs 787
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 4610
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5484 vs 5049
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.358 vs 6.321
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.797 vs 7.34

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3930K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1742

1788

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8205

8425

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

787

821

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4610

4933

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

5049

5484

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.321

6.358

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

65.02

27.376

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.735

0.727

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.141

2.924

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.34

7.797

Name	Intel Core i7-3930K	Intel Core i7-3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1742	1788
PassMark - CPU mark	8205	8425
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	787	821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4610	4933
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5049	5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.321	6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	65.02	27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.735	0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	3.141	2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.34	7.797

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3930K	Intel Core i7-3960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	November 2011	November 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$611	$861
Place in performance rating	2055	2068
Price now	$397.99	$799.99
Processor Number	i7-3930K	i7-3960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	8.88	4.64
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	435 mm	435 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	3.90 GHz
Number of cores	6	6
Number of threads	12	12
Transistor count	2270 million	2270 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.600-1.350V	0.6V-1.35V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64.23 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	40
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)