i7-2657M vs i9-7960X
Aggregate performance score
Core i9-7960X outperforms Core i7-2657M by a whopping 1698% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Contents
Primary details
Comparing processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 443 | 2709 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 2.34 | 0.04 |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | Intel Core i9 | Intel Core i7 |
| Power efficiency | 4.10 | 2.21 |
| Designer | Intel | Intel |
| Manufacturer | Intel | no data |
| Architecture codename | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| Release date | 1 September 2017 (7 years ago) | 3 January 2011 (14 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $1,699 | $317 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
i9-7960X has 5750% better value for money than i7-2657M.
Performance to price scatter graph
Detailed specifications
Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M 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 cores | 16 (Hexadeca-Core) | 2 (Dual-core) |
| Threads | 32 | 4 |
| Base clock speed | 2.8 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4.4 GHz | 2.7 GHz |
| Bus type | DMI 3.0 | DMI 2.0 |
| Bus rate | 4 × 8 GT/s | 4 × 5 GT/s |
| Multiplier | no data | 16 |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 128 KB |
| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB |
| L3 cache | 22 MB (shared) | 4 MB |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 32 nm |
| Die size | 484 mm2 | 149 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | 98 °C | 100 °C |
| Number of transistors | no data | 624 Million |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | + | - |
| Unlocked multiplier | + | - |
Compatibility
Information on Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M 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 configuration | 1 (Uniprocessor) | 1 (Uniprocessor) |
| Socket | FCLGA2066 | FCBGA1023 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 Watt | 17 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512 | Intel® AVX |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| FMA | - | + |
| AVX | + | + |
| vPro | no data | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| My WiFi | no data | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | 2.0 | + |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | + |
| TSX | + | - |
| Idle States | no data | + |
| Thermal Monitoring | - | + |
| Flex Memory Access | no data | + |
| Demand Based Switching | no data | - |
| Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | + | no data |
| FDI | no data | + |
| Fast Memory Access | no data | + |
Security technologies
Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | no data | + |
| EDB | + | + |
| Identity Protection | - | + |
| Anti-Theft | no data | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M are enumerated here.
| VT-d | + | + |
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | no data | + |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR4-2666 | DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333 |
| Maximum memory size | 128 GB | 8.01 GB |
| Max memory channels | 4 | 2 |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 85.33 GB/s | 21.335 GB/s |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | N/A | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Quick Sync Video | - | + |
| Clear Video HD | no data | + |
| Graphics max frequency | no data | 1 GHz |
| InTru 3D | no data | + |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | no data | 2 |
| eDP | no data | + |
| DisplayPort | - | + |
| HDMI | - | + |
| SDVO | no data | + |
| CRT | no data | + |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i7-2657M.
| PCIe version | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 44 | 16 |
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 16.00 | 0.89 |
| Recency | 1 September 2017 | 3 January 2011 |
| Physical cores | 16 | 2 |
| Threads | 32 | 4 |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 32 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 Watt | 17 Watt |
i9-7960X has a 1697.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, 700% more physical cores and 700% more threads, and a 128.6% more advanced lithography process.
i7-2657M, on the other hand, has 870.6% lower power consumption.
The Intel Core i9-7960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Intel Core i7-2657M in performance tests.
Note that Core i9-7960X is a desktop processor while Core i7-2657M is a notebook one.
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