i3-7100 vs i7-3960X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.59
+106%
Core i3-7100
2017
2 cores / 4 threads, 51 Watt
2.72

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i3-7100 by a whopping 106% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11531707
Place by popularitynot in top-10085
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.86
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Core i3
Power efficiency4.075.05
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
Release date14 November 2011 (13 years ago)3 January 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$117

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads124
Base clock speedno data3.9 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate5 GT/s8 GT/s
Multiplier3339
L1 cacheno data64K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB256K (per core)
L3 cache15 MB3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size434.72 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data65 °C
Number of transistors2270 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataFCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt51 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technologyno data-
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

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 data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 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 i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100.

PCIe version2.003.0
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.

i7-3960X Extreme Edition 5.59
+106%
i3-7100 2.72

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3960X Extreme Edition 12460
+87.7%
i3-7100 6640

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.59 2.72
Recency 14 November 2011 3 January 2017
Physical cores 6 2
Threads 12 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 51 Watt

i7-3960X Extreme Edition has a 105.5% higher aggregate performance score, and 200% more physical cores and 200% more threads.

i3-7100, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 5 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 154.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-7100 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i3-7100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i3-7100
Core i3-7100

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition or Core i3-7100, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.