Intel Core i7-6950X vs Intel Core i7-5960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-6950X and Intel Core i7-5960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, 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 i7-6950X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 10 vs 8
  • 4 more threads: 20 vs 16
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 22 nm
  • Around 25% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 25% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 64 GB
  • Around 13% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2337 vs 2068
  • Around 32% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 17528 vs 13326
  • Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 9071 vs 7886
  • Around 17% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6073 vs 5203
  • Around 4% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.263 vs 1.218
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 10 March 2016 vs 1 September 2014
Number of cores 10 vs 8
Number of threads 20 vs 16
Manufacturing process technology 14 nm vs 22 nm
L1 cache 320 KB vs 256 KB
L2 cache 2.5 MB vs 2 MB
L3 cache 25 MB vs 20 MB
Maximum memory size 128 GB vs 64 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 2337 vs 2068
PassMark - CPU mark 17528 vs 13326
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 9071 vs 7886
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 6073 vs 5203
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.263 vs 1.218

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-5960X

  • Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1000 vs 977
  • Around 90% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 196.307 vs 103.335
  • Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.467 vs 5.312
  • Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 14.265 vs 14.075
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1000 vs 977
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 10.511 vs 10.499
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 196.307 vs 103.335
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 5.467 vs 5.312
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 14.265 vs 14.075

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-6950X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-5960X

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2337
2068
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
17528
13326
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
977
1000
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
9071
7886
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score
CPU 1
CPU 2
6073
5203
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
10.499
10.511
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
103.335
196.307
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.263
1.218
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
5.312
5.467
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
14.075
14.265
Name Intel Core i7-6950X Intel Core i7-5960X
PassMark - Single thread mark 2337 2068
PassMark - CPU mark 17528 13326
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 977 1000
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 9071 7886
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 6073 5203
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 10.499 10.511
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 103.335 196.307
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 1.263 1.218
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 5.312 5.467
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 14.075 14.265

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-6950X Intel Core i7-5960X

Essentials

Architecture codename Broadwell E Haswell E
Launch date 10 March 2016 1 September 2014
Launch price (MSRP) $1,723 $999
Place in performance rating 1454 1462
Price now $1,575.99 $768.99
Processor Number i7-6950X i7-5960X
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 3.73 6.11
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.00 GHz 3.00 GHz
Die size 246 mm 356 mm
Front-side bus (FSB) 9.6 GT / s / QPI
L1 cache 320 KB 256 KB
L2 cache 2.5 MB 2 MB
L3 cache 25 MB 20 MB
Manufacturing process technology 14 nm 22 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 72 °C
Maximum frequency 3.50 GHz 3.50 GHz
Number of cores 10 8
Number of threads 20 16
Transistor count 3200 Million 2600 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 0 GT/s
Maximum core temperature 66.8 °C

Memory

Max memory channels 4 4
Maximum memory size 128 GB 64 GB
Supported memory types DDR4 2400/2133 DDR4 1600/1866/2133
Maximum memory bandwidth 68 GB/s

Graphics

Processor graphics None None

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Sockets supported FCLGA2011-3 FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 140 Watt 140 Watt
Package Size 52.5mm x 45.0mm

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 40 40
PCI Express revision 3.0 3.0
Scalability 1S Only 1S Only

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Intel® Identity Protection technology

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel® Demand Based Switching
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)