i3-5005U vs i7-2960XM

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2960XM
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 55 Watt
3.00
+134%
Core i3-5005U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.28

Core i7-2960XM outperforms Core i3-5005U by a whopping 134% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16352279
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i3
Power efficiency5.148.04
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Broadwell-U (2015)
Release date4 September 2011 (13 years ago)1 March 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,096$275

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2.7 GHz2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size216 mm282 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data105 °C
Number of transistors1,160 million1300 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U 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 configuration11
SocketFCPGA988FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)55 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI++
Fast Memory Access++

Security technologies

Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection++
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB16 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 3000Intel HD Graphics 5500
Max video memoryno data16 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHz850 MHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno dataN/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes1612

Synthetic benchmark performance

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. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-2960XM 3.00
+134%
i3-5005U 1.28

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-2960XM 4754
+135%
i3-5005U 2024

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-2960XM 588
i3-5005U 622
+5.8%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-2960XM 1904
+52.6%
i3-5005U 1248

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-2960XM 4928
+57.3%
i3-5005U 3133

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-2960XM 18300
+164%
i3-5005U 6927

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-2960XM 6820
+151%
i3-5005U 2713

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-2960XM 6
+178%
i3-5005U 2

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.00 1.28
Integrated graphics card 0.66 1.51
Recency 4 September 2011 1 March 2015
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 55 Watt 15 Watt

i7-2960XM has a 134.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-5005U, on the other hand, has 128.8% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 3 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 266.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-2960XM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-5005U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2960XM and Core i3-5005U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-2960XM
Core i7-2960XM
Intel Core i3-5005U
Core i3-5005U

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.8 30 votes

Rate Core i7-2960XM on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.3 1018 votes

Rate Core i3-5005U on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2960XM or Core i3-5005U, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.