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Intel BX80648I75960X

Core i7-5960X

▲ 565,820 ▼

8 Cores, 16 Threads @3.0GHz, Haswell-E.
Release date: Q3 2014.

Average Bench: 80.5% (228th of 1442)

more Based on 15,468 user benchmarks.  Devices: BFEBFBFF000306F2, , BFEBFBFF000306A9, BFEBFBFF000306C3, 0F8BFBFF000306F2, 178BFBFF00600F20, 1FABFBFF000306F2 Models: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5960X CPU @ 3.00GHz, Intel Core i7 (tm) 5960X Extremet-Core Processor, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5960X CPU @ 3.50GHz, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5960X CPU @ 3.2GHz

The Intel 5960X sports eight cores and sixteen threads. That's two more cores than we have ever seen on a consumer processor before and as such this $1,000 processor offers record breaking multi-threaded CPU horsepower. Unfortunately the 5960X is clocked at just 3 GHz base and 3.5 GHz turbo which, for single and dual-core workloads, renders it around 15% slower than a $69 G3258 on stock clocks! The 5960X is only compatible with Intel's new X99 chipset which requires new DDR4 RAM and is currently far more expensive, with little consumer benefit, than DDR3. All in all the i7-5960X processor is largely irrelevant for consumers as it's far far too expensive. [Sep '14 CPUPro]

Poor: 70%Average: 80.5% Great: 94%
Gaming
Gaming 80%
Aircraft carrier
Desktop
Desktop 80%
Aircraft carrier
Workstation
Workstation 77%
Battleship

Popular builds with this CPU

Very good average bench

The Intel Core i7-5960X averaged just 19.5% lower than the peak scores attained by the group leaders. This is an excellent result which ranks the Intel Core i7-5960X near the top of the comparison list.

Strengths

Avg. Memory Latency 87Pts
Avg. Quad Core Speed 398Pts

Good consistency

The range of scores (95th - 5th percentile) for the Intel Core i7-5960X is 24%. This is a relatively narrow range which indicates that the Intel Core i7-5960X performs reasonably consistently under varying real world conditions.

Weaknesses

Avg. Octa Core Speed 718Pts
Avg. Multi Core Speed 1,075Pts
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Average Bench

(Based on 15,468 samples)
Rank 22880.5%
Min Avg Max
77.1 Memory 87 95.3
74.4 1-Core 100 128
160 2-Core 201 254
74.5% 129 Pts
Min Avg Max
313 4-Core 398 502
552 8-Core 718 920
67% 558 Pts
Min Avg Max
849 64-Core 1,075 1,353
66.5% 1,075 Pts
User Benchmarks BenchNormalHeavyServer
The fastest CPU (mainstream) averages a speed of 100%
SOCKET 2011, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3.05 GHz, turbo 4.3 GHz (avg)
89% Excellent
Memory 93.7
1-Core 117
2-Core 239
85% 150 Pts
4-Core 453
8-Core 826
77% 639 Pts
64-Core 1196
74% 1196 Pts
SOCKET 2011, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 3.45 GHz (avg)
82.8% Excellent
Memory 87.6
1-Core 100
2-Core 205
75% 131 Pts
4-Core 418
8-Core 880
76% 649 Pts
64-Core 1,198
74% 1,198 Pts
SOCKET 2011, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 3.2 GHz (avg)
81.7% Excellent
Memory 87.9
1-Core 103
2-Core 199
75% 130 Pts
4-Core 406
8-Core 703
67% 554 Pts
64-Core 1,133
70% 1,133 Pts
SOCKET 0, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 2.9 GHz (avg)
79% Very good
Memory 89.2
1-Core 94.3
2-Core 183
72% 122 Pts
4-Core 370
8-Core 719
65% 544 Pts
64-Core 986
61% 986 Pts
SOCKET 2011, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 3 GHz (avg)
76.6% Very good
Memory 84.8
1-Core 93.1
2-Core 186
70% 121 Pts
4-Core 368
8-Core 680
63% 524 Pts
64-Core 982
61% 982 Pts
SOCKET 2011, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz
74.7% Very good
Memory 69.1
1-Core 108
2-Core 222
73% 133 Pts
4-Core 432
8-Core 672
68% 552 Pts
64-Core 970
60% 970 Pts
SOCKET 0, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 3.25 GHz (avg)
71.3% Very good
Memory 76.4
1-Core 90
2-Core 182
66% 116 Pts
4-Core 356
8-Core 665
61% 510 Pts
64-Core 924
57% 924 Pts
SOCKET 0, 1 CPU, 8 cores, 16 threads
Base clock 3 GHz, turbo 1.2 GHz (avg)
45.9% Average
Memory 74.5
1-Core 82.6
2-Core 99.7
55% 85.6 Pts
4-Core 96.9
8-Core 133
15% 115 Pts
64-Core 52
3% 52 Pts
15,468 MORE »

 Market Share (See Leaders)

The number of benchmark samples for this model as a percentage of all 67,823,259 CPUs tested

 Prices

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MSRP ≈ $1049 @ launch in Aug '14
EbayUS $28518 mins
AmazonUS $1,0268 years
BHPhotoUS $1,0707 years
Send price feedback
Custom PC Builder (Start a new build) Build your perfect PC: compare component prices, popularity, speed and value for money

CHOOSE A COMPONENT:

CPU GPU SSD HDD RAM MBD
Typical Core i7-5960X Builds (Compare 2,060 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings
Gaming
Gaming 101%
UFO
Desktop
Desktop 84%
Aircraft carrier
Workstation
Workstation 97%
Nuclear submarine

Motherboard: Asus RAMPAGE V EXTREME - $122

CPU
Core i7-5960XIntel  $285Bench 80%, 15,468 samples471x
GPU
GTX 1080-TiNvidia  $485Bench 124%, 840,268 samples216x
GTX 1080Nvidia  $195Bench 102%, 1,082,454 samples199x
GTX 980Nvidia  $500Bench 59%, 167,107 samples123x
SSD
850 Evo 500GBSamsung  $94Bench 112%, 695,664 samples79x
950 NVMe PCIe M.2 512GBSamsung  $625Bench 223%, 54,978 samples61x
970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 1TBSamsung  $95Bench 310%, 455,997 samples60x
RAM
Vengeance LPX DDR4 2666 C16 4x8GBCorsair  $117Bench 85%, 8,498 samples36x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 2800 C16 4x4GBCorsair  $210Bench 88%, 3,970 samples34x
Vengeance LPX DDR4 2666 C16 4x4GBCorsair  $115Bench 88%, 5,380 samples28x
EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER Value: 70% - Good Total price: $1,103

Popular Core i7-5960X compatible motherboards:

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Processor Rankings (Price vs Performance) May 2024 CPU Rankings

We calculate effective speed which measures real world performance for typical users. Effective speed is adjusted by current prices to yield a value for money rating. Our calculated values are checked against thousands of individual user ratings. The customizable table below combines these factors to bring you the definitive list of top CPUs. [CPUPro]

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Group Test Results

  • Best user rated - User sentiment trumps benchmarks for this comparison.
  • Best value for money - Value for money is based on real world performance.
  • Fastest real world speed - Real World Speed measures performance for typical consumers.

 Specifications

Essentials

DescriptionIntel® Core™ i7-5960X Processor Extreme Edition (20M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz)
Code NameHaswell E
Launch DateQ3'14
Processor Numberi7-5960X
# of Cores8
# of Threads16
Cache20 MB SmartCache
Instruction Set64-bit
Instruction Set ExtensionsSSE4.2, AVX 2.0, AES
Embedded Options AvailableNo
Lithography22 nm
Recommended Price$999.00 - $1059.00
Clock Speed3 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency3.5 GHz
Bus Speed0 GT/s
Scalability1S Only
Max TDP140 W

Graphics

Processor GraphicsNone

Memory

Max Memory Size64 GB
Memory TypesDDR4 1333/1600/2133
Memory Channels4
Memory Bandwidth68 GB/s
ECC Memory SupportedNo

Expansion Options

PCI Express Revision3.0
Max # of PCI Express Lanes40

Data Protection

AES New InstructionsYes

Advanced Technologies

Virtualization Tech (VT-x)Yes
Intel 64Yes
Idle StatesYes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® TechYes
Thermal Monitoring TechnologiesYes
Turbo Boost Tech2.0
Hyper-Threading TechYes
Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d)Yes
VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)Yes
Demand Based SwitchingNo
vPro TechNo
Identity Protection TechYes
Smart Response TechYes

Package

Package Size52.5mm x 45.0mm
Max CPU Configuration1
Sockets SupportedLGA2011-v3

Platform Protection

Execute Disable BitYes
Trusted Execution TechNo

 Comments

CPUPro
Avatar level
2,072

Official site ark.intel.com/...

LGA2011-V3

Added 9 years ago.
USA-User
Avatar level
9,842

Poor (edit your comment) Add link

30 days ago.

Great CPU, at time of release, much better than i7-4790K, plus despite being Haswell, DDR4 RAM! Still runs great paired with a EVGA GTX 1070 FTW & wouldn't bottleneck 2000 gen RTX 2070/2080 at minimum. Rocking hard 10 years later! This is how powerful CPU's should still be today, using the wasted resources for onboard GPU for more CPU power.

Comment 

Running Windows 11 using a TPM module on ASUS x99a Deluxe MB with intel raid and 1TB Nvme C: drive. Updated the GPU lately and still play any games no problem.—May '23

GBR-User
Avatar level
5,786

Good

17 months ago.

Had a 5960x, lasted me years Great CPU, run games like Tarkov with ease

POL-User
Avatar level
4,572

Poor

12 months ago.

Superior to 6700k but inferior to anything else above it

IRN-User
Avatar level
3,964

Terrible

16 months ago.

very good cpu effective speed up to 95

ZAF-User
Avatar level
2,790

Excellent

6 years ago.

welp,ryzens dead. sayonara amd

CHE-User
Avatar level
2,616

Excellent

3 years ago.

Still a MONSTER !!!! It´s a keeper ;)

FIN-User
Avatar level
2,546

Excellent

3 years ago.

Old cpu but keeps outperforming

CPUPro
Avatar level
2,072

Outstanding

9 years ago.

Thomass
Avatar level
74

Outstanding

7 years ago.

This CPU will take whatever you throw at it, and demolish it. This thing is a true beast for everything and will do what you want

Otaku
Avatar level
20

Excellent

5 years ago.

Bought used on eBay, better than overpriced 9900K, Quad Channel + 40 PCI-E lane :) Overclocked to 4.7Ghz ofc :)

JOCUFO
Avatar level
2

Excellent

8 years ago.

Easy to overclock and easy to tame CPU temp on air

PCMenon
Avatar level
2

Excellent

5 years ago.

Awesome CPU. Bult in 2014 and much better then most processors of 2018. Lifetime processor !!!

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1442 Processors (Compared) Thousands of user benchmarks compiled into one comparison list

See how consistently different CPUs perform with varying real world conditions. The charts also illustrate overall performance, popularity and rank.

 Frequently Asked Questions

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ALL FAQs »

 Best User Rated
The Best.
CPUGPUSSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $254Nvidia RTX 4060 $290Crucial MX500 250GB $39
Intel Core i5-12400F $133Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i5-12600K $163Nvidia RTX 4070 $539Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52
HDDRAMUSB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $45SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $31Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $48SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $51G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $351SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16
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