Core i5-12400F vs Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.75
Core i5-12400F
2022
6 cores / 12 threads, 65 Watt
12.64
+120%

Core i5-12400F outperforms Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition by a whopping 120% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking1066562
Place by popularitynot in top-1004
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.4757.30
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEno data
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date14 November 2011 (12 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Current price$301 $168

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-12400F has 3798% better value for money than i7-3960X Extreme Edition.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F 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)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads1212
Base clock speedno data2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz4.4 GHz
Bus support5 GT/sno data
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size434.72 mm220.9 mm × 20.8 mm163 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Number of transistors2270 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F 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
Socketno dataFCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F. 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)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSXno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoringno data+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Statusno dataLaunched

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F 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 i5-12400F. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.8 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F.

PCIe version2.005.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes4020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.75 12.64
Recency 14 November 2011 4 January 2022
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 65 Watt

The Core i5-12400F is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i5-12400F, 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 i5-12400F
Core i5-12400F

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Community ratings

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3.8 38 votes

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4.1 11173 votes

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Questions & comments

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