i7-2860QM vs i7-3960X Extreme Edition

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.59
+96.1%
Core i7-2860QM
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
2.85

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i7-2860QM by an impressive 96% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11531675
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Core i7
Power efficiency4.075.99
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date14 November 2011 (13 years ago)4 September 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$568

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speedno data2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 2.0
Bus rate5 GT/s4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplier3325
L1 cacheno data256 KB
L2 cache1,536 KB1 MB
L3 cache15 MB8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size434.72 mm2216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Number of transistors2270 Million1160 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM 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 dataFCBGA1224,FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® AVX
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
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 i7-2860QM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.598 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.3 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM.

PCIe version2.002.0
PCI Express lanes4016

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.59 2.85
Recency 14 November 2011 4 September 2011
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 45 Watt

i7-3960X Extreme Edition has a 96.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 months, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i7-2860QM, on the other hand, has 188.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2860QM in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is a desktop processor while Core i7-2860QM is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-2860QM, 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 i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i7-2860QM
Core i7-2860QM

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.


3.8 39 votes

Rate Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.6 215 votes

Rate Core i7-2860QM on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition or Core i7-2860QM, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.