i7-5700HQ vs i7-3960X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.03
+47.1%
Core i7-5700HQ
2015, $378
4 cores / 8 threads, 47 Watt
3.42

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i7-5700HQ by a considerable 47% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13721702
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.47
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Core i7
Power efficiency1.643.09
DesignerIntelIntel
Manufacturerno dataIntel
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Broadwell-H (2015)
Release date14 November 2011 (14 years ago)2 June 2015 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$378

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Performance to price scatter graph

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speedno data2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier33no data
L1 cacheno data64K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB256K (per core)
L3 cache15 MB6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size434.72 mm2182 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data105 °C
Number of transistors2270 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
Socketno dataFCBGA1364
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt47 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Responseno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel Iris Pro Graphics 6200
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
VGAno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-5700HQ.

PCIe version2.003.0
PCI Express lanes4016

Synthetic benchmarks

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating.

i7-3960X Extreme Edition 5.03
+47.1%
i7-5700HQ 3.42

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3960X Extreme Edition 12460
+58.3%
i7-5700HQ 7870

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.03 3.42
Recency 14 November 2011 2 June 2015
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 47 Watt

i7-3960X Extreme Edition has a 47.1% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i7-5700HQ, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 176.6% lower power consumption.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the Intel Core i7-5700HQ in performance tests.

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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
Core i7-5700HQ

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Community ratings

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3.8 40 votes

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4.1 53 votes

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