i5-12600K vs i7-3960X Extreme Edition

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.59
Core i5-12600K
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
17.43
+212%

Core i5-12600K outperforms Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition by a whopping 212% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1153364
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data43.99
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Core i5
Power efficiency4.0713.19
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date14 November 2011 (13 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$289

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K 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)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads1216
Base clock speedno data3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz4.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 4.0
Bus rate5 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplier3337
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size434.72 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors2270 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K 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 dataFCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K. 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++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K 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 i5-12600K 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 i5-12600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K.

PCIe version2.005.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes4020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.59 17.43
Recency 14 November 2011 4 November 2021
Physical cores 6 10
Threads 12 16
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 125 Watt

i5-12600K has a 211.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 years, 66.7% more physical cores and 33.3% more threads, and 4% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-12600K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12600K, 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 i5-12600K
Core i5-12600K

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