Intel Core i7-960 vs Intel Core i7-920

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-960 and Intel Core i7-920 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, 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 i7-960

Intel Core i7-920

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-960

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
Around 18% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 2.93 GHz
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1459 vs 1216
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3347 vs 2838
Around 20% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 565 vs 469
Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2198 vs 1855
Around 28% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.115 vs 0.873
Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 59.327 vs 50.388
Around 25% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.374 vs 0.3
Around 24% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.942 vs 4

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2009 vs November 2008
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 2.93 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1459 vs 1216
PassMark - CPU mark	3347 vs 2838
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	565 vs 469
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2198 vs 1855
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.115 vs 0.873
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	59.327 vs 50.388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.374 vs 0.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.942 vs 4

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-920

4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.595 vs 0.395

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.595 vs 0.395

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-960
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-920

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1459

1216

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3347

2838

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

565

469

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2198

1855

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.115

0.873

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

59.327

50.388

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.374

0.3

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.395

1.595

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.942

Name	Intel Core i7-960	Intel Core i7-920
PassMark - Single thread mark	1459	1216
PassMark - CPU mark	3347	2838
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	565	469
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2198	1855
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	2227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.115	0.873
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	59.327	50.388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.374	0.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.395	1.595
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.942	4

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-960	Intel Core i7-920
Essentials
Architecture codename	Bloomfield	Bloomfield
Launch date	October 2009	November 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$316	$340
Place in performance rating	2765	2767
Price now	$99.99	$174
Processor Number	i7-960	i7-920
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	17.14	8.34
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	4.8 GT/s QPI	4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size	263 mm2	263 mm2
Front-side bus (FSB)	1333 MHz	1333 MHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	2.93 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of QPI Links	1	1
Number of threads	8	8
Transistor count	731 million	731 million
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	3	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm x 45.0mm	42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)