Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Core i7-5960X

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.23
+2%

Core i7-5960X outperforms Xeon E5-1660 v3 by a minimal 2% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking862872
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation6.688.73
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Haswell-EP (2014)
Release date1 September 2014 (9 years ago)8 September 2014 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999no data
Current price$140 (0.1x MSRP)$199

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 31% better value for money than i7-5960X.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads1616
Base clock speed3 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.5 GHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache20 MB (shared)20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size356 mm2356 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C66 °C
Number of transistors2,600 million2,600 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierYesYes

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3 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
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA2011
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt140 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-+
PAEno data46 Bit
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3 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 Xeon E5-1660 v3 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133
Maximum memory size64 GB768 GB
Max memory channels44
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/s68 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4040

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
+2%
Xeon E5-1660 v3 8.07

Core i7-5960X outperforms Xeon E5-1660 v3 by 2% 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
+2%
Xeon E5-1660 v3 12485

Core i7-5960X outperforms Xeon E5-1660 v3 by 2% 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 1302
+0.1%
Xeon E5-1660 v3 1301

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 7392
+1.9%
Xeon E5-1660 v3 7256

Core i7-5960X outperforms Xeon E5-1660 v3 by 2% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.23 8.07

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3.

Note that Core i7-5960X is a desktop processor while Xeon E5-1660 v3 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Xeon E5-1660 v3, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X
Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3
Xeon E5-1660 v3

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-5960X or Xeon E5-1660 v3, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.