Intel Core i7-6700K vs Core i7-4960X

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Combined performance score

i7-4960X
6.57
+12.9%

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 13% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking9371020
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money1.781.81
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i7 (Desktop)
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge-E (2013)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date3 September 2013 (10 years old)1 August 2015 (8 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$339
Current price$337 (0.3x MSRP)$257 (0.8x MSRP)
Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-6700K has 2% better value for money than i7-4960X.

Technical specs

Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K 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 speed3.6 GHz4 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz4.2 GHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache15 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size257 mm2122 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C64 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1,860 million1750 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierYesYes

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt91 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K. 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++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSXno data+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPPno data-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPXno data+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K are enumerated here.

AMD-Vno data+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth59.7 GB/s34.1 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 530
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.15 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPortno data+
HDMIno data+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K 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
Max resolution over VGAno dataN/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K.

PCIe version3.03.0
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 6.57
+12.9%
i7-6700K 5.82

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 13% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i7-4960X 10084
+12.8%
i7-6700K 8936

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 13% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-4960X 682
i7-6700K 1481
+117%

Core i7-6700K outperforms Core i7-4960X by 117% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-4960X 3402
i7-6700K 4900
+44%

Core i7-6700K outperforms Core i7-4960X by 44% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i7-4960X 8743
i7-6700K 9037
+3.4%

Core i7-6700K outperforms Core i7-4960X by 3% in 3DMark06 CPU.

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

Benchmark coverage: 18%

i7-4960X 4.56
+46.1%
i7-6700K 6.66

Core i7-6700K outperforms Core i7-4960X by 46% in wPrime 32.

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

i7-4960X 11
+16.4%
i7-6700K 10

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 16% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

Benchmark coverage: 15%

i7-4960X 1076
+22.3%
i7-6700K 880

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 22% in Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 15%

i7-4960X 144
i7-6700K 178
+23.3%

Core i7-6700K outperforms Core i7-4960X by 23% in Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core.

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

Benchmark coverage: 4%

i7-4960X 13280
+7.2%
i7-6700K 12390

Core i7-4960X outperforms Core i7-6700K by 7% in 3DMark Fire Strike Physics.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 6.57 5.82
Recency 3 September 2013 1 August 2015
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Cost $999 $339
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 91 Watt

The Core i7-4960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6700K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4960X and Core i7-6700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-4960X
Core i7-4960X
Intel Core i7-6700K
Core i7-6700K

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