Intel Core i7-3960X vs Intel Core i7-880

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3960X and Intel Core i7-880 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 i7-3960X

Intel Core i7-880

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 5% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
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
4x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 16 GB
Around 25% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1800 vs 1442
2.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 vs 3319
Around 39% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 589
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 2203

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2011 vs May 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.73 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	64 GB vs 16 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800 vs 1442
PassMark - CPU mark	8446 vs 3319
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821 vs 589
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 2203

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-880

Around 9% higher maximum core temperature: 72.7°C vs 66.8°C
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Maximum core temperature	72.7°C vs 66.8°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-880

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1800

1442

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8446

3319

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

821

589

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4933

2203

Name	Intel Core i7-3960X	Intel Core i7-880
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800	1442
PassMark - CPU mark	8446	3319
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821	589
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933	2203
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.797

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3960X	Intel Core i7-880
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Lynnfield
Launch date	November 2011	May 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$861	$583
Place in performance rating	2117	2120
Price now	$799.99	$583
Processor Number	i7-3960X	i7-880
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.64	2.83
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.06 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	435 mm	296 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	66.8°C	72.7°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	3.73 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	2270 million	774 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.6V-1.35V	0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
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 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
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)