i7-2960XM vs i5-6500

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1513	1631
Place by popularity	28	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.75	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5 (Desktop)	Intel Core i7
Power efficiency	5.16	5.16
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	1 September 2015 (9 years ago)	4 September 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$192	$1,096

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM 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	4 (Quad-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	3.7 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	no data
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Multiplier	32	no data
L1 cache	256 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	122 mm2	216 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	1,160 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM 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
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM. 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
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
My WiFi	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
SIPP	+	-
Demand Based Switching	no data	-
FDI	no data	+
Fast Memory Access	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	-
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data
Anti-Theft	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR3
Maximum memory size	64 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 530	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz	1.3 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
DVI	+	no data
SDVO	no data	+
CRT	no data	+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over VGA	N/A	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	3.68	3.11
Integrated graphics card	2.59	0.66
Recency	1 September 2015	4 September 2011
Threads	4	8
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	55 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6500 and Core i7-2960XM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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