i3-4160 vs i7-2600

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2600
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.36
+52%
Core i3-4160
2014
2 cores / 4 threads, 54 Watt
2.21

Core i7-2600 outperforms Core i3-4160 by an impressive 52% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15611830
Place by popularity59not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.480.36
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Power efficiency3.353.87
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)21 July 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$247$133

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-2600 has 33% better value for money than i3-4160.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed3.4 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache8192 KB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm22 nm
Die size216 mm2177 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1,160 million1,400 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 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
SocketLGA1155FCLGA1150
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt54 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 2000Intel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memoryno data2 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.35 GHz1.15 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+
VGAno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno data1920x1200@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.1/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160.

PCIe version2.0Up to 3.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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.

i7-2600 3.36
+52%
i3-4160 2.21

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.

i7-2600 5343
+51.9%
i3-4160 3518

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.

i7-2600 612
i3-4160 1077
+76%

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.

i7-2600 2051
i3-4160 2085
+1.7%

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-2600 5020
i3-4160 5100
+1.6%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.36 2.21
Integrated graphics card 0.55 1.35
Recency 9 January 2011 21 July 2014
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 54 Watt

i7-2600 has a 52% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-4160, on the other hand, has 145.5% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 3 years, a 45.5% more advanced lithography process, and 75.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-2600 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-4160 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600 and Core i3-4160, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-2600
Core i7-2600
Intel Core i3-4160
Core i3-4160

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.9 2705 votes

Rate Core i7-2600 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 893 votes

Rate Core i3-4160 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2600 or Core i3-4160, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.