i7-2600K vs i7-4960X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-4960X
2013
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
6.58
+83.3%

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-2600K by an impressive 83% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking10521538
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.480.41
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency4.623.45
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge-E (2013)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date3 September 2013 (11 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$317

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-4960X has 17% better value for money than i7-2600K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K 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 speed3.6 GHz3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache15 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm32 nm
Die size257 mm2216 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C73 °C
Number of transistors1,860 million1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K 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
SocketFCLGA2011LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Identity Protection++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K are enumerated here.

VT-d+-
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth59.7 GB/s21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.35 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K.

PCIe version3.02.0
PCI Express lanes4016

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.

i7-4960X 6.58
+83.3%
i7-2600K 3.59

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.

i7-4960X 10070
+83.4%
i7-2600K 5490

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.

i7-4960X 703
+5.4%
i7-2600K 667

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.

i7-4960X 3495
+52.5%
i7-2600K 2292

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.

i7-4960X 8743
+31.1%
i7-2600K 6669

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-4960X 4.56
+130%
i7-2600K 10.5

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.

i7-4960X 11
+66.1%
i7-2600K 7

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-4960X 1076
+75.4%
i7-2600K 614

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-4960X 144
+11.6%
i7-2600K 129

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-4960X 13280
+165%
i7-2600K 5020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 6.58 3.59
Recency 3 September 2013 9 January 2011
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Chip lithography 22 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 95 Watt

i7-4960X has a 83.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads, and a 45.5% more advanced lithography process.

i7-2600K, on the other hand, has 36.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-4960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2600K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4960X and Core i7-2600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-4960X
Core i7-4960X
Intel Core i7-2600K
Core i7-2600K

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Community ratings

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