i3-7120 vs i9-7960X

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	326	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	3.02	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i9	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	10.44	no data
Architecture codename	Skylake (server) (2017−2019)	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
Release date	30 May 2017 (7 years ago)	17 July 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,699	$117

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120 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 cores	16 (Hexadeca-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	32	4
Base clock speed	2.8 GHz	4 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.4 GHz	4 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	DMI 3.0
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Multiplier	no data	40
L1 cache	1 MB	128 KB
L2 cache	16 MB	512 KB
L3 cache	22 MB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Die size	484 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	98 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	65 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120 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 configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA2066	1151
Power consumption (TDP)	165 Watt	51 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512	no data
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
TSX	+	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

EDB

+

no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120 are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	no data
VT-x	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size	128 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	85.33 GB/s	38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card

N/A

Intel HD Graphics 630

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	44	16

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	30 May 2017	17 July 2017
Physical cores	16	2
Threads	32	4
Power consumption (TDP)	165 Watt	51 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-7960X and Core i3-7120, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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