i7-7700 vs i7-5960X

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.34
+47.3%

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-7700 by a considerable 47% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking9141132
Place by popularitynot in top-10062
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.811.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i7 (Desktop)
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
Release date1 September 2014 (10 years ago)3 January 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$303

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-7700 has 105% better value for money than i7-5960X.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads168
Base clock speed3 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz4.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate0 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data36
L1 cache64K (per core)256 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)1 MB
L3 cache20 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size356 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature67 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors2,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 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 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP-+
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
StatusDiscontinuedLaunched

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/s38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.15 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700.

PCIe version3.03.0
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.

i7-5960X 8.34
+47.3%
i7-7700 5.66

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.

i7-5960X 12741
+47.4%
i7-7700 8646

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.

i7-5960X 1322
i7-7700 1408
+6.5%

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.

i7-5960X 7495
+67.3%
i7-7700 4480

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.

i7-5960X 4.25
+58.4%
i7-7700 6.73

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.

i7-5960X 15
+58.1%
i7-7700 10

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i7-5960X 1387
+61.8%
i7-7700 857

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.

i7-5960X 139
i7-7700 178
+28.1%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark 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 loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i7-5960X 1.53
i7-7700 2.02
+32%

x264 encoding pass 2

x264 Pass 2 is a slower variant of x264 video compression that produces a variable bit rate output file, which results in better quality since the higher bit rate is used when it is needed more. Benchmark result is still measured in frames per second.  

i7-5960X 82
+68%
i7-7700 49

x264 encoding pass 1

x264 version 4.0 is a video encoding benchmark uses MPEG 4 x264 compression method to compress a sample HD (720p) video. Pass 1 is a faster variant that produces a constant bit rate output file. Its result is measured in frames per second, which means how many frames of the source video file were encoded per second.  

i7-5960X 191
+5.5%
i7-7700 181

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-5960X 14570
+19.5%
i7-7700 12190

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.34 5.66
Recency 1 September 2014 3 January 2017
Physical cores 8 4
Threads 16 8
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 65 Watt

i7-5960X has a 47.3% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i7-7700, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 years, a 57.1% more advanced lithography process, and 115.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-7700 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Core i7-7700, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X
Intel Core i7-7700
Core i7-7700

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