i5-4430 vs i7-4960X

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-4960X
2013
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
6.32
+116%
Core i5-4430
2013
4 cores / 4 threads, 84 Watt
2.93

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i5-4430 by a whopping 116% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking10701657
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.510.59
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Core i5 (Desktop)
Power efficiency4.603.30
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge-E (2013)Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date3 September 2013 (11 years ago)2 June 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$182

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-4430 has 16% better value for money than i7-4960X.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 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)
Threads124
Base clock speed3.6 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache15 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size257 mm2177 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1,860 million1,400 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1150
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt84 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDIno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection++
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth59.7 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 4600
Max video memoryno data2 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
VGAno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 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 i7-4960X and Core i5-4430 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430.

PCIe version3.0Up to 3.0
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.

i7-4960X 6.32
+116%
i5-4430 2.93

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.

i7-4960X 10035
+115%
i5-4430 4660

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.

i7-4960X 702
i5-4430 1023
+45.7%

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.

i7-4960X 3464
+21.2%
i5-4430 2858

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-4960X 1076
+132%
i5-4430 463

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-4960X 144
+13.4%
i5-4430 127

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-4960X 13280
+138%
i5-4430 5590

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 6.32 2.93
Recency 3 September 2013 2 June 2013
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 4
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 84 Watt

i7-4960X has a 115.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 3 months, and 50% more physical cores and 200% more threads.

i5-4430, on the other hand, has 54.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-4960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-4430 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4960X and Core i5-4430, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-4960X
Core i7-4960X
Intel Core i5-4430
Core i5-4430

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-4960X or Core i5-4430, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.