Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Core i7-6950X: What is the difference?
42points
Intel Core i7-5960X
46points
Intel Core i7-6950X
Comparison winner
vs
63 facts in comparison
Intel Core i7-5960X
Intel Core i7-6950X
Why is Intel Core i7-5960X better than Intel Core i7-6950X?
- 0.05MB/core more L2 cache per core?
0.25MB/corevs0.2MB/core - Has F16C?
- Has FMA3?
Why is Intel Core i7-6950X better than Intel Core i7-5960X?
- 25% faster CPU speed?
10 x 3GHzvs8 x 3GHz - 267MHz higher ram speed?
2400MHzvs2133MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
20vs16 - 8nm smaller semiconductor size?
14nmvs22nm - 0.5MB bigger L2 cache?
2.5MBvs2MB - 0.5GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4GHzvs3. 5GHz - 5MB bigger L3 cache?
25MBvs20MB - Has an unlocked multiplier?
Which are the most popular comparisons?
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i7-6850k
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900K
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-7700K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i7-8700K
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-9700K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i9-10900X
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-8700K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i7-6800k
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i3-8100
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i7-6900k
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-4790K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i7-9700K
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-5930K
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
Intel Core i9-10900K
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i7-6850k
Intel Core i7-6950X
vs
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Price comparison
User reviews
Performance
CPU speed
8 x 3GHz
10 x 3GHz
The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
3.5GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✖Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.25MB/core
0.2MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
2.5MB/core
2.5MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Blender (bmw27) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The Blender (bmw27) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
performance per watt
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
GPU turbo
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
When the GPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
GPU execution units
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with a greater number of execution units can deliver better graphics.
supported displays
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
Using multiple displays you can create a larger workspace, making it easier to work across multiple apps.
DirectX version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
DirectX is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenGL version
∅
Not applicable
OpenGL is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenCL version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
texture mapping units (TMUs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
TMUs take textures and map them to the geometry of a 3D scene. More TMUs will typically mean that texture information is processed faster.
render output units (ROPs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
Not applicable
The ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, writing the final pixel data to memory and carrying out other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve the look of graphics.
Memory
RAM speed
2133MHz
2400MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
68GB/s
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
DDR memory version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✖Intel Core i7-5960X
✖Intel Core i7-6950X
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
A higher version of eMMC allows faster memory interfaces, having a positive effect on the performance of a device. For example, when transferring files from your computer to the internal storage over USB.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor’s physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads. This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
Has AES
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing an image or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✖Intel Core i7-6950X
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖Intel Core i7-5960X
✖Intel Core i7-6950X
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
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Which are the best CPUs?
Intel Core i7 6950X vs i7 5960X: performance comparison
VS
Intel Core i7 6950X
Intel Core i7 5960X
We compared two desktop CPUs: the 3.0 GHz Intel Core i7 6950X with 10-cores against the 3.0 GHz i7 5960X with 8-cores. On this page, you’ll find out which processor has better performance in benchmarks, games and other useful information.
- Review
- Differences
- Performance
- Specs
- Comments
Review
General overview and comparison of the processors
Single-Core Performance
Performance in single-threaded apps and benchmarks
Core i7 6950X
47
Core i7 5960X
45
Performance
Measure performance when all cores are involved
Core i7 6950X
43
Core i7 5960X
36
Power Efficiency
The efficiency score of electricity consumption
Core i7 6950X
39
Core i7 5960X
29
NanoReview Final Score
Generic CPU rating
Core i7 6950X
45
Core i7 5960X
40
Key Differences
What are the key differences between 5960X and 6950X
Advantages of Intel Core i7 6950X
- Supports up to 128 GB DDR4-2133 RAM
- More modern manufacturing process – 14 versus 22 nanometers
- Newer — released 1-year and 10-months later
- Has 2 more physical cores
- Has 5 MB larger L3 cache size
Benchmarks
Comparing the performance of CPUs in benchmarks
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
Core i7 6950X
+1%
1079
Core i7 5960X
1068
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
Core i7 6950X
9801
Core i7 5960X
+1%
9927
Passmark CPU (Single-Core)
Core i7 6950X
+19%
2324
Core i7 5960X
1959
Passmark CPU (Multi-Core)
Core i7 6950X
+37%
17208
Core i7 5960X
12594
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Core i7 6950X
+8%
970
Core i7 5960X
895
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
Core i7 6950X
+31%
9247
Core i7 5960X
7060
▶️ Submit your Cinebench R23 result
By purchasing through links on this site, we may receive a commission from Amazon. This does not affect our assessment methodology.
Specifications
Full technical specification of Intel Core i7 6950X and i7 5960X
General
Vendor | Intel | Intel |
Released | May 30, 2016 | August 29, 2014 |
Type | Desktop | Desktop |
instruction set | x86-64 | x86-64 |
Codename | Broadwell E | Haswell E |
Model number | i7-6950X | i7-5960X |
Socket | LGA-2011-3 | LGA-2011-3 |
Integrated GPU | No | No |
Performance
Cores | 10 | 8 |
Threads | 20 | 16 |
Base Frequency | 3. 0 GHz | 3.0 GHz |
Turbo Boost Frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
Bus frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
Multiplier | 30x | 30x |
L1 Cache | 32K (per core) | 64K (per core) |
L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
L3 Cache | 25MB (shared) | 20MB (shared) |
Unlocked Multiplier | No | No |
Transistors | — | 2.6 billions |
Fabrication process | 14 nm | 22 nm |
TDP | 140 W | 140 W |
Memory support
Memory types | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2133 |
Memory Size | 128 GB | 64 GB |
Max. Memory Channels | 4 | 4 |
Max. Memory Bandwidth | — | 68 GB/s |
ECC Support | No | No |
Official site | Intel Core i7 6950X official page | Intel Core i7 5960X official page |
PCI Express Version | 3.0 | 3.0 |
PCI Express Lanes | 40 | 40 |
Extended instructions | — | SSE4.2, AVX-2 |
Cast your vote
Choose between two processors
Core i7 6950X
6 (75%)
Core i7 5960X
2 (25%)
Total votes: 8
So which CPU will you choose: Intel Core i7 5960X or i7 6950X?
Name
Message
Promotion
0026 0. 25MB/core vs 0.2MB/core
Why is Intel Core i7-6950X better than Intel Core i7-5960X?
- 25% higher CPU speed?
10 x 3GHz vs 8 x 3GHz - 267MHz higher RAM speed?
2400MHz vs 2133MHz - 4 more CPU threads?
20 vs 16 - Smaller 8nm semiconductors?
14nm vs 22nm - 0.5MB more L2 cache?
2.5MB vs 2MB - 0.5GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4GHz vs 3.5GHz - 5MB more L3 cache?
25MB vs 20MB - Has an unlocked multiplier?
What are the most popular comparisons?
Intel Core i7-5960X
vs
Intel Core i9-9900k
Intel Core i7-6950x
VS
Intel Core i7-6850K
Intel Core i7-5960x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 9000 000 2950 000 00029-69-6950 9000 00029-6950. 000.000.000.000 9000 000 ° Antel Core I7-Hontel Core I7-ENTEL CORE
Intel Core i9-9900k
Intel Core i7-5960x
VS
Intel Core i7-7700k
Intel Core i7-6950x
VS
Intel Core I7-8700K
vs
Intel Core i7-9700k
Intel Core i7-6950x
VS
Intel Core i9-10900x
Intel i7-5960x
VS
Intel Core I7-8700K
I7-6950X 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS -6800k
Intel Core i7-5960x
VS
Intel Core i3-8100
Intel Core i7-69502
VS
Intel Core
9000 VS 9000 VS VS i7-4790K
Intel Core i7-6950x
VS
Intel Core i7-9700k
Intel Core i7-5960x
VS
Intel Core i7-59302 I7-6950X
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000)
Intel Core i7-5960x
VS
Intel Core i7-6850K
Intel Core i7-6950x
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Reviews
Executive0004 cpu speed
8 x 3GHz
10 x 3GHz
cpu speed indicates how many processing cycles per second a processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors). It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.
processor thread
More threads result in better performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
3.5GHz
When the processor is running below its limits, it can jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✖Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier and can be easily overclocked for better performance in games and other applications.
L2 Cache
More L2 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L3 cache
More L3 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L1 cache
More L1 cache results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L2 core
0.25MB/core
0.2MB/core
More data can be stored in L2 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
L3 core
2.5MB/core
2.5MB/core
More data can be stored in L3 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
Geotagging
PassMark result
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This test measures processor performance using multithreading.
PassMark result (single)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This test measures processor performance using a thread of execution.
Geekbench 5 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the performance of a multi-core processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Cinebench R20 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark that measures the performance of a multi-core processor by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 result (single core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Cinebench R20 is a test to evaluate the performance of a single core processor when rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the single-core performance of a processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Blender test result (bmw27)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Blender benchmark (bmw27) measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The Blender (classroom) test measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
performance per watt
This means that the processor is more efficient, giving more performance per watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
Turbo GPU
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
When the GPU is running below its limits, it may jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
GPU execution units
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with more execution units can provide better graphics.
monitor support
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
By using multiple displays, you can expand your workspace, making it easier to work in multiple applications.
DirectX version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
DirectX is used in games with a new version that supports better graphics.
OpenGL version
∅
N/A
The newer the OpenGL version, the better the graphics in games.
OpenCL version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
Some applications use OpenCL to use the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions are more functional and better quality.
texture units (TMUs)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
TMUs take textured units and map them to the geometric location of the 3D scene. More TMUs generally means texture information is processed faster.
imaging units ROPs
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
∅
N/A
ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, such as writing the final pixel data to memory and for performing other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve appearance charts.
Memory
RAM speed
2133MHz
2400MHz
Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
68GB/s
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.
DDR memory version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
DDR (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is the most common type of RAM. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.
maximum memory
Maximum memory (RAM).
bus baud rate
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device.
Supports memory troubleshooting code
✖Intel Core i7-5960X
✖Intel Core i7-6950X
Memory troubleshooting code can detect and repair data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The newer version of eMMC — built-in flash memory card — speeds up the memory interface, has a positive effect on device performance, for example, when transferring files from a computer to internal memory via USB.
bus frequency
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device
, Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) delivers faster performance by dividing each physical processor core into logical cores, also known as threads. Thus, each core can run two instruction streams at the same time.
Has AES
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial applications, and to improve the performance of the Linux RAID program.
version of SSE
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing images or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✖Intel Core i7-6950X
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.
bits transmitted at the same time
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-5960X)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-6950X)
NEON provides faster media processing such as MP3 listening.
Has MMX
✔Intel Core i7-5960X
✔Intel Core i7-6950X
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.