Intel Core i7-3960X vs Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-3960X CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i7-3960X and the Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i7-3960X 6 core processor released in Q4/2011 with the Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 which has 10 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2013.
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24) Family Intel Xeon E5 (71)
Intel Core i 3000X (4) CPU group Intel Xeon E5 v2 (15)
3 Generation 4
Sandy Bridge E Architecture Ivy Bridge EP
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor Intel Xeon E5-2690 v3

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-3960X is a 6 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.30 GHz (3.90 GHz). The processor can compute 12 threads at the same time. The Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 clocks with 3.00 GHz (3.60 GHz), has 10 CPU cores and can calculate 20 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
6 Cores 10
12 Threads 20
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
Yes Overclocking ? No
3.30 GHz Frequency 3.00 GHz
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) 3.60 GHz
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) 3.30 GHz

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
GPU frequency --
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
Technology
Max. displays
-- Compute units --
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory --
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 No
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC No
No Codec VC-1 No
No Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to 64 GB of memory in a maximum of 4 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i7-3960X, while the Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 supports a maximum of 768 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
DDR3-1600 Memory DDR3-1866
64 GB Max. Memory 768 GB
4 (Quad Channel) Memory channels 4 (Quad Channel)
51.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 59.7 GB/s
No ECC Yes
-- L2 Cache --
15.00 MB L3 Cache 25.00 MB
2.0 PCIe version 3.0
40 PCIe lanes 40
20.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth 39.4 GB/s

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i7-3960X has a TDP of 130 W. The TDP of the Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 is 130 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 130 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-3960X has 15.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 32 nm. The cache of Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 is at 25.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 22 nm.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
32 nm Technology 22 nm
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
LGA 2011 Socket LGA 2011
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping) Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
Yes AES-NI Yes
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q4/2011 Release date Q3/2013
970 $ Release price 1700 $
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

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Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
⌀ Multi core performance in 5 CPU benchmarks

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
804 (100%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.60 GHz
802 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
4973 (68%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.30 GHz
7288 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
736 (100%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.60 GHz
712 (97%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
3488 (70%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.30 GHz
4996 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
8454 (52%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.30 GHz
16394 (100%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.30 GHz
2643 (64%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.00 GHz
4160 (100%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
159 (100%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.60 GHz
76 (48%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
6C 12T @ 3.90 GHz
1158 (82%)
Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2 Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
10C 20T @ 3.30 GHz
1413 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Xeon E5-2690 v2
Unknown Unknown

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