Intel Pentium G3258 vs Intel Core i7-3960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Pentium G3258 and Intel Core i7-3960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, 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), 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 Pentium G3258

Intel Core i7-3960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Pentium G3258

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Around 8% higher maximum core temperature: 72°C vs 66.8°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
2.5x lower typical power consumption: 53 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1857 vs 1799
Around 71% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 46.787 vs 27.376

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	June 2014 vs November 2011
Maximum core temperature	72°C vs 66.8°C
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	53 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1857 vs 1799
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.787 vs 27.376

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
10 more threads: 12 vs 2
Around 22% higher clock speed: 3.90 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
5x 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
4.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8445 vs 2079
Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 795
3.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 1480
4.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 6.358 vs 1.292
2.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.727 vs 0.258
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.924 vs 1.278
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.797 vs 3.792

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	12 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.90 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
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 3072 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	64 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	8445 vs 2079
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821 vs 795
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 1480
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.358 vs 1.292
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.727 vs 0.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.924 vs 1.278
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.797 vs 3.792

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Pentium G3258
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1857

1799

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2079

8445

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

795

821

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1480

4933

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.292

6.358

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

46.787

27.376

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.258

0.727

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.278

2.924

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.792

7.797

Name	Intel Pentium G3258	Intel Core i7-3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1857	1799
PassMark - CPU mark	2079	8445
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	795	821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1480	4933
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.292	6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.787	27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.258	0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.278	2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.792	7.797
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	674
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1531
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	4218
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	674
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1531
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	4218

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Pentium G3258	Intel Core i7-3960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Haswell	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	June 2014	November 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$77	$861
Place in performance rating	2089	2065
Price now	$178.28	$799.99
Processor Number	G3258	i7-3960X
Series	Intel® Pentium® Processor G Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.43	4.64
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	177 mm	435 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	72°C	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz	3.90 GHz
Number of cores	2	6
Number of threads	2	12
Transistor count	1400 million	2270 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range		0.6V-1.35V
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	21.3 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333 @ 1.5V	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Graphics
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	1.7 GB
Processor graphics	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3
VGA
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	1920x1080@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	1920x1200@60Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	11.1/12
OpenGL	4.3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1150	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	53 Watt	130 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2013C
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	40
PCI Express revision	Up to 3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	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
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Smart Response technology
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)