Core i7-6500U vs Core i7-5960X

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.23
+288%

i7-5960X outperforms i7-6500U by a whopping 288% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking8651795
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation6.23no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i7
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date1 September 2014 (9 years ago)1 September 2015 (8 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$393
Current price$148 (0.1x MSRP)$849 (2.2x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads164
Base clock speed3 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.1 GHz
L1 cache64K (per core)128 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)512 KB
L3 cache20 MB (shared)4 MB
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size356 mm299 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C100 °C
Number of transistors2,600 million1750 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierYesNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCBGA1356
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U. 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++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
SIPPno data-
Smart Response++
Demand Based Switching-no data
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U 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 i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/s34.1 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 520
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U 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 i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4012

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 8.23
+288%
i7-6500U 2.12

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 288% based on our aggregate 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%

i7-5960X 12729
+289%
i7-6500U 3276

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 289% 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%

i7-5960X 1301
+80.9%
i7-6500U 719

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 81% 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%

i7-5960X 7393
+351%
i7-6500U 1641

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 351% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 20%

i7-5960X 5193
+6.3%
i7-6500U 4886

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 6% in Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i7-5960X 33929
+213%
i7-6500U 10844

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 213% in Cinebench 10 32-bit 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%

i7-5960X 9924
+135%
i7-6500U 4231

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 135% 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%

i7-5960X 4.25
+269%
i7-6500U 15.68

Core i7-6500U outperforms Core i7-5960X by 269% 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%

i7-5960X 15
+330%
i7-6500U 4

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 330% 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%

i7-5960X 1387
+339%
i7-6500U 316

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 339% 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%

i7-5960X 139
+8.6%
i7-6500U 128

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 9% in Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

i7-5960X 1.53
+4.8%
i7-6500U 1.46

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 5% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 13%

i7-5960X 8.2
+356%
i7-6500U 1.8

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 356% in TrueCrypt AES.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 13%

i7-5960X 7049
+184%
i7-6500U 2482

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 184% in WinRAR 4.0.

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.  

Benchmark coverage: 13%

i7-5960X 82
+303%
i7-6500U 20

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 303% in x264 encoding pass 2.

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.  

Benchmark coverage: 13%

i7-5960X 191
+81.9%
i7-6500U 105

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 82% in x264 encoding pass 1.

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

Benchmark coverage: 4%

i7-5960X 14570
+415%
i7-6500U 2830

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 415% in 3DMark Fire Strike Physics.

Geekbench 4.0 64-bit multi-core

Benchmark coverage: 2%

i7-5960X 22382
+206%
i7-6500U 7303

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 206% in Geekbench 4.0 64-bit multi-core.

Geekbench 4.0 64-bit single-core

Benchmark coverage: 2%

i7-5960X 3980
+2.8%
i7-6500U 3872

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i7-6500U by 3% in Geekbench 4.0 64-bit single-core.

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.23 2.12
Recency 1 September 2014 1 September 2015
Physical cores 8 2
Threads 16 4
Cost $999 $393
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 15 Watt

The Core i7-5960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6500U in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-5960X is a desktop processor while Core i7-6500U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Core i7-6500U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X
Intel Core i7-6500U
Core i7-6500U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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