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).

 

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: 1799 vs 1746
  • Around 3% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8445 vs 8204
  • 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 1799 vs 1746
PassMark - CPU mark 8445 vs 8204
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
1746
1799
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
8204
8445
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 1746 1799
PassMark - CPU mark 8204 8445
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 2053 2065
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)