i5-9600KF vs i7-960

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-960
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
2.11
Core i5-9600KF
2019
6 cores / 6 threads, 95 Watt
6.72
+218%

Core i5-9600KF outperforms Core i7-960 by a whopping 218% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking18661025
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.137.37
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency1.546.69
Architecture codenameBloomfield (2008−2010)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date20 October 2009 (15 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$316$262

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9600KF has 5569% better value for money than i7-960.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF 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)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads86
Base clock speed3.2 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.46 GHz4.6 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate1333 MHz4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data37
L1 cache64 KB (per core)384 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1.5 MB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm14 nm
Die size263 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature68 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors731 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF 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)
SocketFCLGA1366FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data

Security technologies

Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF 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 i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size24 GB128 GB
Max memory channels32
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s41.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/Ano data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

i7-960 2.11
i5-9600KF 6.72
+218%

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.

i7-960 3347
i5-9600KF 10677
+219%

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.

i7-960 489
i5-9600KF 1615
+230%

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.

i7-960 1651
i5-9600KF 5768
+249%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.11 6.72
Recency 20 October 2009 7 January 2019
Physical cores 4 6
Threads 8 6
Chip lithography 45 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 95 Watt

i7-960 has 33.3% more threads.

i5-9600KF, on the other hand, has a 218.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 years, 50% more physical cores, a 221.4% more advanced lithography process, and 36.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-9600KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-960 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-960 and Core i5-9600KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-960
Core i7-960
Intel Core i5-9600KF
Core i5-9600KF

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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