i3-1215U vs i7-5960X

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.02
+17.4%
Core i3-1215U
2022
6 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
6.83

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i3-1215U by a moderate 17% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking9311019
Place by popularitynot in top-10021
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.75no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Alder Lake-M
Power efficiency5.4243.09
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date1 September 2014 (10 years ago)23 February 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads168
Base clock speed3 GHz1.2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz4.4 GHz
Bus rate0 GT/sno data
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache20 MB (shared)10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size356 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature67 °C100 °C
Number of transistors2,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
Execution Unitsno data64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U.

PCIe version3.04.0
PCI Express lanes4020

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.

i7-5960X 8.02
+17.4%
i3-1215U 6.83

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.

i7-5960X 12744
+17.4%
i3-1215U 10852

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.

i7-5960X 1322
i3-1215U 1846
+39.6%

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.

i7-5960X 7496
+53.1%
i3-1215U 4896

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-5960X 5193
i3-1215U 7879
+51.7%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-5960X 33929
+74.6%
i3-1215U 19430

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.

i7-5960X 4.25
i3-1215U 3.41
+24.6%

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.

i7-5960X 15
+36.9%
i3-1215U 11

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i7-5960X 1387
+71.4%
i3-1215U 809

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.

i7-5960X 139
i3-1215U 218
+56.5%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark 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 loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i7-5960X 1.53
i3-1215U 2.79
+82.4%

TrueCrypt AES

TrueCrypt is a discontinued piece of software that was widely used for on-the-fly-encryption of disk partitions, now superseded by VeraCrypt. It contains several embedded performance tests, one of them being TrueCrypt AES, which measures data encryption speed using AES algorithm. Result is encryption speed in gigabytes per second.

i7-5960X 8.2
i3-1215U 11.6
+41.5%

x264 encoding pass 2

x264 Pass 2 is a slower variant of x264 video compression that produces a variable bit rate output file, which results in better quality since the higher bit rate is used when it is needed more. Benchmark result is still measured in frames per second.  

i7-5960X 82
+64.4%
i3-1215U 50

x264 encoding pass 1

x264 version 4.0 is a video encoding benchmark uses MPEG 4 x264 compression method to compress a sample HD (720p) video. Pass 1 is a faster variant that produces a constant bit rate output file. Its result is measured in frames per second, which means how many frames of the source video file were encoded per second.  

i7-5960X 191
i3-1215U 199
+4.3%

WinRAR 4.0

WinRAR 4.0 is an outdated version of a popular file archiver. It contains an internal speed test, using 'Best' setting of RAR compression on large chunks of randomly generated data. Its results are measured in kilobytes per second.

i7-5960X 7049
i3-1215U 7944
+12.7%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.02 6.83
Recency 1 September 2014 23 February 2022
Physical cores 8 6
Threads 16 8
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 15 Watt

i7-5960X has a 17.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 33.3% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-1215U, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 7 years, and 833.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-1215U in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-5960X is a desktop processor while Core i3-1215U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Core i3-1215U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X
Intel Core i3-1215U
Core i3-1215U

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Community ratings

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