Intel Core i7-4960X vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-4960X and Intel Core i7-4790K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support. 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 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4960X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 3 month(s) later
  • 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 24% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 10042 vs 8067
  • Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 5157 vs 3995
  • 2.1x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6029 vs 2818
  • 4.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 25.225 vs 5.95
  • Around 74% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 174.038 vs 100.106
  • 2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 6.883 vs 2.814
  • 4.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 32.99 vs 7.147
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 3 September 2013 vs 1 June 2013
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Number of threads 12 vs 8
L1 cache 384 KB vs 256 KB
L2 cache 1.5 MB vs 1 MB
L3 cache 15 MB vs 8 MB
Maximum memory size 64 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 10042 vs 8067
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 5157 vs 3995
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 6029 vs 2818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 25.225 vs 5.95
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 174.038 vs 100.106
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 6.883 vs 2.814
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 32.99 vs 7.147

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4790K

  • Around 10% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 4.00 GHz
  • Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 74.04°C vs 66.8°C
  • Around 48% lower typical power consumption: 88 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • Around 19% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2467 vs 2073
  • Around 26% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1070 vs 850
  • 4.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.695 vs 0.161
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 4.40 GHz vs 4.00 GHz
Maximum core temperature 74.04°C vs 66.8°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 88 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2467 vs 2073
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1070 vs 850
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.695 vs 0.161

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-4960X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-4790K

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2073
2467
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
10042
8067
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
850
1070
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
5157
3995
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
6029
2818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
25.225
5.95
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
174.038
100.106
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.161
0.695
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
6.883
2.814
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
32.99
7.147
Name Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4790K
PassMark - Single thread mark 2073 2467
PassMark - CPU mark 10042 8067
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 850 1070
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 5157 3995
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 6029 2818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 25.225 5.95
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 174.038 100.106
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.161 0.695
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 6.883 2.814
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 32.99 7.147
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames) 1279
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames) 2489
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 3454
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps) 1279
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps) 2489
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 3454

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4790K

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge E Devil's Canyon
Launch date 3 September 2013 1 June 2013
Launch price (MSRP) $999 $339
Place in performance rating 1512 1527
Price now $769.99 $306.99
Processor Number i7-4960X i7-4790K
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 5.28 10.73
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.60 GHz 4.00 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI2 5 GT/s DMI2
Die size 257 mm 177 mm
L1 cache 384 KB 256 KB
L2 cache 1.5 MB 1 MB
L3 cache 15 MB 8 MB
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 22 nm
Maximum core temperature 66.8°C 74.04°C
Maximum frequency 4.00 GHz 4.40 GHz
Number of cores 6 4
Number of threads 12 8
Transistor count 1860 Million 1400 Million
Unlocked
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 72 °C

Memory

Max memory channels 4 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 59.7 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 64 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600/1866 DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V

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 FCLGA1150
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 130 Watt 88 Watt
Thermal Solution PCG 2013D

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 40 16
PCI Express revision 3.0 3.0
PCIe configurations Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability 1S Only

Security & Reliability

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

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
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
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI

Virtualization

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

Graphics

Device ID 0x412
Execution Units 20
Graphics base frequency 350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.25 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.25 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory 2 GB
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 4600

Graphics interfaces

DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported 3
VGA
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Graphics image quality

Max resolution over DisplayPort 3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP 3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4 3840x2160@24Hz
Max resolution over VGA 1920x1200@60Hz

Graphics API support

DirectX 11.2/12
OpenGL 4.3