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).

Intel Core i7-4960X

Intel Core i7-4790K

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 25% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 10070 vs 8066
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	10070 vs 8066
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: 2466 vs 2078
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	2466 vs 2078
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

2078

2466

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

10070

8066

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	2078	2466
PassMark - CPU mark	10070	8066
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	1513	1530
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