Core i7-6700 vs Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1069	1127
Place by popularity	98	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.23	3.18
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i7EE	Intel Core i7 (Desktop)
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date	14 November 2011 (12 years ago)	1 July 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	no data	$303
Current price	$350	$92 (0.3x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-6700 has 159% better value for money than i7-3960X Extreme Edition.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 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	6 (Hexa-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	12	8
Base clock speed	no data	3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.3 GHz	4 GHz
Bus support	5 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	no data	64K (per core)
L2 cache	1,536 KB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	15 MB	8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	434.72 mm220.9 mm × 20.8 mm	122 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	71 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	2270 Million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 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	no data	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	no data	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	no data	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	no data	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	no data	+
Thermal Monitoring	no data	+
SIPP	no data	+
Status	no data	Launched

Security technologies

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	no data	+
VT-d	no data	+
VT-x	no data	+
EPT	no data	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	no data	DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size	64 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	no data	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	no data	34.1 GB/s
ECC memory support	no data	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel HD Graphics 530
Max video memory	no data	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	no data	+
Clear Video	no data	+
Clear Video HD	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.15 GHz
InTru 3D	no data	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

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

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700.

PCIe version	2.00	3.0
PCI Express lanes	40	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.

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i7-6700 by 10% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	5.75	5.23
Recency	14 November 2011	1 July 2015
Physical cores	6	4
Threads	12	8
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-6700, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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