i7-5960X vs i9-10940X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i9-10940X
2019
14 cores / 28 threads, 165 Watt
17.57
+119%
Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.03

Core i9-10940X outperforms Core i7-5960X by a whopping 119% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking353931
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.78
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataCore i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency10.085.43
Architecture codenameCascade Lake-X (2019)Haswell-E (2014)
Release date19 October 2019 (5 years ago)1 September 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$999

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X 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 cores14 (Tetradeca-Core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads2816
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.8 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus rate8 GT/s DMI3 MHz0 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache19.25 MB (shared)20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm22 nm
Die sizeno data356 mm2
Maximum core temperature86 °C67 °C
Number of transistorsno data2,600 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X 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
SocketFCLGA2066FCLGA2011
Power consumption (TDP)165 Watt140 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2933DDR4
Maximum memory size256 GB64 GB
Max memory channels44
Maximum memory bandwidth94 GB/s68 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4840

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.

i9-10940X 17.57
+119%
i7-5960X 8.03

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.

i9-10940X 27903
+119%
i7-5960X 12748

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.

i9-10940X 1565
+18.4%
i7-5960X 1322

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.

i9-10940X 10519
+40.3%
i7-5960X 7496

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 17.57 8.03
Recency 19 October 2019 1 September 2014
Physical cores 14 8
Threads 28 16
Chip lithography 14 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 165 Watt 140 Watt

i9-10940X has a 118.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, 75% more physical cores and 75% more threads, and a 57.1% more advanced lithography process.

i7-5960X, on the other hand, has 17.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-10940X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-5960X in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-10940X and Core i7-5960X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i9-10940X
Core i9-10940X
Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X

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.


3.7 101 vote

Rate Core i9-10940X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.8 223 votes

Rate Core i7-5960X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-10940X or Core i7-5960X, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.