Intel Core i7-3960X

Specifications Benchmarks Synonyms

Specifications

Technical data

CPU generation and family

CPU group
Intel Core i 3000X
Family
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition
Generation
3
Name
Intel Core i7-3960X
Predecessor
—
Segment
Desktop / Server
Successor
—

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

A-Core
—
B-Core
—
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
C-Core
—
Core architecture
normal
CPU Cores
6
CPU Threads
12
Hyperthreading / SMT
Yes
Overclocking
Yes
Turbo Frequency (1 Core)
3.9 GHz
Turbo Frequency (6 Cores)
3.9 GHz

Internal Graphics

DirectX Version
—
Execution units
—
Generation
—
GPU Frequency
—
GPU name
no iGPU
GPU Turbo
No turbo
Max. displays
—
Max. GPU Memory
—
Release date
—
Shader
—
Technology
—

Hardware codec support

AV1
No
H.264 / AVC
No
h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
No
h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
No
JPEG
No
VC-1
No
VP8
No
VP9
No

Memory & PCIe

ECC
No
Max. Memory
—
Memory channels
4
Memory type
DDR3-1600
PCIe lanes
—
PCIe version
—

Encryption

AES-NI
Yes

Thermal Management

Maximum Operating Temperature
—
TDP (PL1, legacy label)
130 W
TDP (PL2)
—
TDP down
—
TDP up
—

Technical details

Architecture
Sandy Bridge E
Instruction set (ISA)
x86-64 (64 bit)
ISA extensions
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
L2-Cache
—
L3-Cache
15 MB
Part Number
—
Release date
Q4/2011
Socket
LGA 2011
Technology
32 nm
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping)

Positions in all rankings

Common positions Intel Core i7-3960X CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

339 place
Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

259 place
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

593 place
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

354 place
Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)

382 place
Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)

176 place
Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)

341 place
Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

158 place
Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

295 place

Benchmarks

Performance tests CPU

Compare the scores of popular benchmarks Intel Core i7-3960X with other processors to understand the real speed of the CPU when processing content.

Tests include mathematical calculations, creation of 3D models, cryptocurrency mining, tests in single and multi-core modes.

These are saved results from the earlier catalog. Measurement dates and test configurations were not recorded. Models with no comparable results are omitted.

Recent models: test results with identified primary sources — Cinebench R23 · Cinebench R20 · Cinebench R15 · Cinebench 2026 · RandomX benchmark

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

The Cinebench R15 SC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware

Higher values are better in this metric.

159

Intel Core i7-3960X

160

Intel Core i3-8140U

160

Intel Core i3-8145U

All the benchmark results

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

The Cinebench R15 MC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware

Higher values are better in this metric.

1158

Intel Core i7-3960X

1165

Intel Core i5-9600K

1165

Intel Core i5-9600KF

All the benchmark results

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 SC is a popular cross-platform performance test for desktop or mobile processors that uses system memory intensively

Higher values are better in this metric.

836

Intel Core i7-3960X

839

Intel Core i5-7300HQ

839

Intel Core i7-4800MQ

All the benchmark results

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 MC is a popular cross-platform performance test for desktop or mobile processors that uses system memory intensively

Higher values are better in this metric.

4973

Intel Core i7-3960X

5012

Intel Core i5-8600

4989

Intel Xeon E-2246G

All the benchmark results

Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 3 SC for one CPU core, includes stress tests simulating real 3D scenarios for Windows, Mac, Linux, Ansroid, iOS

Higher values are better in this metric.

3314

Intel Core i7-3960X

3320

Intel Core i5-4570

3319

Intel Core i7-4700HQ

Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 3 MC using a multi-core and hyperthreading, includes stress tests simulating real 3D scenarios for Windows, Mac, Linux, Ansroid, iOS

Higher values are better in this metric.

19300

Intel Core i7-3960X

20156

Intel Core i7-8750H

20120

Intel Core i7-4960X

Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)

The PC CPU and GPU test involves rendering a specific 3D scene in single-core mode, based on CINEMA 4D

Higher values are better in this metric.

1.57

Intel Core i7-3960X

1.57

Intel Core i5-6500T

1.57

Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3

Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

The PC CPU and GPU test involves rendering a specific 3D scene in multi-core mode and hyperthreading, based on CINEMA 4D

Higher values are better in this metric.

11.35

Intel Core i7-3960X

11.7

Intel Core i7-5930K

11.54

Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

PassMark is a test suite that performs complex mathematical calculations to determine CPU performance on file compression, encryption and physics-related tasks

Higher values are better in this metric.

12712

Intel Core i7-3960X

12797

Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3

12790

Intel Core i7-3970X

All the benchmark results

Comparable benchmark results are required to suggest performance alternatives.

PL1 is the sustained processor power limit; PL2 is the short-term turbo power limit. They are not measured performance or efficiency.

The values are used to select the optimal cooling system and power supply.

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Intel Core i7-3960X