Intel Core i7-3960X vs Intel Core i7-965

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3960X and Intel Core i7-965 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 i7-965

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 11 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 13% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.46 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
2.7x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 24 GB
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1800 vs 1475
2.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8446 vs 3424
Around 42% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 578
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 2233

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2011 vs November 2008
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.46 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 24 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800 vs 1475
PassMark - CPU mark	8446 vs 3424
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821 vs 578
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 2233

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-965

Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 66.8°C

Maximum core temperature	67.9°C vs 66.8°C

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-965

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1800

1475

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8446

3424

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

821

578

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4933

2233

Name	Intel Core i7-3960X	Intel Core i7-965
PassMark - Single thread mark	1800	1475
PassMark - CPU mark	8446	3424
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821	578
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933	2233
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 i7-965
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Bloomfield
Launch date	November 2011	November 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$861	$1,509
Place in performance rating	2117	2097
Price now	$799.99	$139.99
Processor Number	i7-3960X	i7-965
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.64	12.32
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	435 mm	263 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	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	2270 million	731 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.6V-1.35V	0.800V-1.375V
Number of QPI Links		1
Memory
Max memory channels	4	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333/1600	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40
PCI Express revision	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 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)