Intel® Core™ i7-3960X Extreme Edition

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is a desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, built on the Sandy Bridge architecture. It launched in Oct 2011. Clocks run from 3.3 GHz base to 3.9 GHz boost. A 15-MB L3 cache backs the cores (2.8 MB per core). It addresses DDR3 memory up to 64 GB across 4 channels. The chip drops into the FCLGA2011 socket and exposes PCIe 2.0 (40 lanes). Rated TDP is 130 W. Notable platform capabilities: Extended Page Tables (EPT).

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition scores 1,778 in single-core performance and 8,436 in multi-core performance (PassMark CPU Mark ratings). From those two ratings Feex computes 3,873 for overall performance, 7,973 for productivity performance, 7,840 for creator performance, 8,383 for engineering performance and 7,443 for gaming performance. Its multi-core throughput works out to 1,406 per core, 703 per thread and 65 per watt. Its computed efficiency index is 340. Its performance index is 48, so its overall performance is 52% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). Each bar shows the score as a share of a reference ceiling, which is the larger of the 99th-percentile score across the Feex CPU database and a fixed baseline.

Scores for individual PassMark CPU Mark test categories. Higher is better. These are measured test scores, not computed from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

In the individual workload tests the Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition scores 32,869 in integer math, 12,249 in floating-point math, 141,488 in compression, 2,591 in cryptography, 709 in physics simulation, 6,292 in vector SIMD, 42 in the prime sieve and 20,779 in sorting. Higher is better. Compared with the Intel Core i5-12400, it is 44% below in integer math, 73% below in floating-point math, 38% below in compression, 77% below in cryptography, 35% below in physics simulation, 59% below in vector SIMD, 37% below in the prime sieve and 8% below in sorting. Each bar shows the score as a share of that workload's reference ceiling, the larger of the 99th-percentile score across CPUs with a recorded value and a fixed baseline.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition has 6 physical cores and runs 12 logical threads. It runs 2 threads per core. It runs at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts up to 3.90 GHz.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is a desktop processor, belongs to the Intel Core i7 family, uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, carries the codename Sandy Bridge E and is manufactured on a 32 nm process. It launched in Oct 2011.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition has 384 KB of L1 cache, 1.50 MB of L2 cache and 15 MB of L3 cache. That adds up to about 16.9 MB of cache, or 2.81 MB per core. Each core has 256 KB of private L2 cache.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition has a 3-level cache hierarchy: L1 at 384 KB, L2 at 1.5 MB and L3 at 15 MB. L3 is the largest level and makes up about 89% of the cache listed here.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition supports DDR3 memory, addresses up to 64 GB of memory and uses 4 memory channels. It does not support DDR5, DDR4 and LPDDR memory.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition uses the FCLGA2011 socket, supports PCI Express 2.0 and provides up to 40 PCIe lanes.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition has a rated TDP of 130 W.

Instruction sets, security, virtualization, AI acceleration and OS readiness. Features are listed as supported, explicitly not supported, or not recorded; a feature that is not recorded is not the same as unsupported.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition is also identified by the model number i7-3960X.

Feex has recorded 54% of the specifications it tracks for the Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition. Values Feex does not hold are shown as "Not recorded" rather than estimated.

Not recorded: Core Configuration: Performance Cores, Efficiency Cores, Hybrid Architecture, All-Core Boost and Unlocked Multiplier. Architecture & Generation: ISA Family and Market Status. Cache: L4 Cache. Memory Support: Memory Bandwidth, ECC Memory and Max Memory Speed. Graphics: Integrated Graphics, Graphics Model, Graphics Base Clock, Graphics Max Clock, Execution Units, Display Outputs and Max Video Memory. Platform & Compatibility: Package and Package Size. Power & Thermals: Base Power, Maximum Turbo Power, Configurable TDP (Min), Configurable TDP (Max), Max Junction Temperature and Tcase. Physical & Manufacturing: Transistor Count, Die Size, Die Count, Foundry and Launch Price. Naming & Aliases: Normalized Name, SKU, Processor Number and Part Number.

Processors that use the same FCLGA2011 socket as the Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and have the closest multi-core scores in the Feex database include Intel Xeon E5-4650L, Intel Xeon E5-2665, Intel Xeon E5-1660, Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 and Intel Xeon E5-4650.