i7-2600 vs i7-980X EE

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-980X EE
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
3.84
+13.9%
Core i7-2600
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.37

Core i7-980X EE outperforms Core i7-2600 by a moderate 14% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking14691575
Place by popularitynot in top-10062
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.58
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency2.803.36
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release dateno data9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$247

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 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 speedno data3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus rate6400 MHz5 GT/s
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cacheno data256 KB (per core)
L3 cacheno data8192 KB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data73 °C
Number of transistorsno data1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 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 configurationno data1
SocketLGA-1366LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.35 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

i7-980X EE 3.84
+13.9%
i7-2600 3.37

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.

i7-980X EE 6096
+14%
i7-2600 5346

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.84 3.37
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 95 Watt

i7-980X EE has a 13.9% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i7-2600, on the other hand, has 36.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-980X EE is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2600 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-980X EE and Core i7-2600, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i7-980X EE
Core i7-980X EE
Intel Core i7-2600
Core i7-2600

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

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 i7-980X EE or Core i7-2600, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.