i3-1215U vs i7-3960X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.80
Core i3-1215U
2022
6 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
7.10
+22.4%

Core i3-1215U outperforms Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition by a significant 22% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11361012
Place by popularitynot in top-10020
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Alder Lake-M
Power efficiency4.0743.16
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date14 November 2011 (12 years ago)23 February 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U 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)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speedno data1.2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz4.4 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
Multiplier33no data
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size434.72 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Number of transistors2270 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U 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 dataFCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U. 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++
FMA-+
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U are enumerated here.

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 i3-1215U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channelsno data2

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
Execution Unitsno data64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U.

PCIe version2.004.0
PCI Express lanes4020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.80 7.10
Recency 14 November 2011 23 February 2022
Threads 12 8
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 15 Watt

i7-3960X Extreme Edition has 50% more threads.

i3-1215U, on the other hand, has a 22.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 years, and 766.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-1215U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is a desktop processor while Core i3-1215U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-1215U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i3-1215U
Core i3-1215U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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