Intel Core i7-3960X vs Intel Core M-5Y70

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-3960X CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Core M-5Y70
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core M-5Y70

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i7-3960X and the Intel Core M-5Y70 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 Core M-5Y70 which has 2 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2014.
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24) Family Intel Core M (16)
Intel Core i 3000X (4) CPU group Intel Core M 5 (7)
3 Generation 5
Sandy Bridge E Architecture Broadwell Y
Desktop / Server Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

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 Core M-5Y70 clocks with 1.10 GHz (2.60 GHz), has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Core M-5Y70
6 Cores 2
12 Threads 4
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
Yes Overclocking ? No
3.30 GHz Frequency 1.10 GHz
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) 2.60 GHz
3.90 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) 2.00 GHz

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Core M-5Y70
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

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 Intel HD Graphics 5300
GPU frequency 0.10 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.85 GHz
-- GPU Generation 8
Technology 14 nm
Max. displays 3
-- Compute units 24
-- Shader 192
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory 16 GB
-- DirectX Version 11.2

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 Intel HD Graphics 5300
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode
No Codec h264 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP9 Decode
No Codec VP8 Decode
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC Decode / Encode
No Codec VC-1 Decode
No Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

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 Core M-5Y70 supports a maximum of 16 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Core M-5Y70
DDR3-1600 Memory DDR3L-1600
64 GB Max. Memory 16 GB
4 (Quad Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
51.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache --
15.00 MB L3 Cache 4.00 MB
2.0 PCIe version 2.0
40 PCIe lanes 12
20.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth 6.0 GB/s

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i7-3960X has a TDP of 130 W. The TDP of the Intel Core M-5Y70 is 4.5 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Core M-5Y70
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 4.5 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 Core M-5Y70 is at 4.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 14 nm.

Intel Core i7-3960X Characteristic Intel Core M-5Y70
32 nm Technology 14 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, AVX2
LGA 2011 Socket BGA 1234
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
Q4/2011 Release date Q3/2014
970 $ Release price --
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Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i7-3960X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Intel Core M-5Y70 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 1.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 (75%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-3960X (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 (20%)

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 Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
667 (83%)

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 (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.00 GHz
1079 (22%)

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 (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.00 GHz
1791 (21%)

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 Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
107 (67%)

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 (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.00 GHz
208 (18%)

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 Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
0 (0%)

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 (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 2.00 GHz
0 (0%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-3960X
@ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
Intel HD Graphics 5300 @ 0.85 GHz
326 (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 (100%)
Intel Core M-5Y70 Intel Core M-5Y70
2C 4T @ 1.10 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core M-5Y70
Unknown Unknown

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