Core i3-4170 vs Core i7-5960X

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	865	1713
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	6.04	2.29
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Core i7 (Desktop)	no data
Architecture codename	Haswell-E (2014)	no data
Release date	1 September 2014 (9 years ago)	no data
Launch price (MSRP)	$999	no data
Current price	$148 (0.1x MSRP)	$51

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-5960X has 164% better value for money than i3-4170.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 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	8 (Octa-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	16	4
Base clock speed	3 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.5 GHz	no data
L1 cache	64K (per core)	no data
L2 cache	256K (per core)	no data
L3 cache	20 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Die size	356 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	67 °C	72 °C
Number of transistors	2,600 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 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	1
Socket	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1150
Power consumption (TDP)	140 Watt	54 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
Identity Protection	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 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 i3-4170. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600
Maximum memory size	64 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memory	no data	2 GB
Quick Sync 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 i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	no data	1920x1200@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	11.1/12
OpenGL	no data	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170.

PCIe version	3.0	Up to 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 i7-5960X outperforms Core i3-4170 by 252% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	8.23	2.34
Physical cores	8	2
Threads	16	4
Power consumption (TDP)	140 Watt	54 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Core i3-4170, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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