Intel Core i7-3960X Review
Conclusion
Published: 14th November 2011 | Source: Intel | Price: £790 |
Conclusion
Hopefully you've read all of our LGA2011 reviews today. This particular one focussed upon the stock performance of the Core i7-3960X, but the conclusion will encompass our knowledge of its overclocking capabilities too, which you can see in the ASUS Rampage IV Extreme and Gigabyte X79 UD5 reviews.
When we originally reviewed the X58 i7-990X the results were so outstanding that we wondered if Intel had almost set an untouchable benchmark. Especially when you consider that we knew the next top of the range LGA2011 CPU wouldn't be a reduction in the nanometre process, nor would have extra cores, and Intel are notorious for not pushing their processor speeds to the levels they can actually obtain. All we can say to that is, oh ye of little faith.
The Intel Core i7-3960X is as far ahead of the i7-990X as that is ahead of the i7-950.
Even a cursory glance through our stock results shows how capable the i7-3960X is. Probably the most surprising ones are when it's up against the heavily overclocked processors, because even the stock speeds of the i7-3960X are sufficient to stay close to them, or in some tests even pass. The Sandra Processor tests are particularly indicative of this, as is the CineBench result. It doesn't really matter what you throw at the i7-3960X, it handles everything with aplomb. The harder the test, the better it seems to perform. If that wasn't sufficient then when it's overclocked it's even more amazing, smashing nearly every record we have.
A small word about the motherboard too. Despite their claims about "Extreme" boards, we all know that Intel motherboards tend to be on the conservative side. We love the looks, we like the comprehensive labelling and we absolutely adore the 'Back to BIOS' button which is so far ahead of the other "recovering from a failed overclock" solutions we've ever seen that we want it on every future board please.
In fact we can only think of two things that are slightly disappointing. Firstly the memory performance on this particular board, and to a certain degree in general, isn't as stunning as we hoped it would be. It fits in between the scores from the Z68 and X58 chipsets and the RAM speed doesn't seem to change the bandwidth available to write actions. Secondly we've got greedy with the Sandy Bridge CPUs and would have liked to have seen the 5GHz barrier broken on air. Although considering we've still got a 4.7GHz 12 thread CPU, it's a tiny complaint.
No we're not going to complain about the eye-watering price. All premium Intel CPUs have always been around the £1000 mark, and in the case of the i7-3960X its performance absolutely justifies such a high price tag. Even better it's actually retailing for a, relatively, reasonable £770. The long and short of it is that if you absolutely must have the very best, and even if you've just brought a shiny i7-990X, the i7-3960X is still fast enough to warrant a purchase.
It's an absolutely stunning CPU and, despite the premium price, definitely worthy of our Gold Award.
Thanks to Intel for supplying the Core i7-3960X for review. Discuss in our forums.
Most Recent Comments
40 minutes of x79 goodness <3
I'm getting SB-E. Intel delivers again 
if the future SR-3 has two of these babies on it..... where do i sign 
Great review Tom. SB-E is totally awesome. Wish I had the budget to build a SB-E system. One can always dream? 
Brilliant review as always. Amazing performance at stock and Intel have done it once again .
.
Wow, scoring 10 on Cinebench strait out the box is amazing, a 2500K @ 4.7ghz scores about 7.9 so that goes to show just how powerful this CPU is.
Also, 48,000 PPD at stock .... The only thing I have against SB-E is that it is still 32nm, power hungry and hot. The heat is to be expected but it would have been nice if SB-E was 22nm and a little cooler using less volts.
If I had money to burn i'd buy one but I think i'll hold out to see what IB-E is like.
Also, 48,000 PPD
at stock .... The only thing I have against SB-E is that it is still 32nm, power hungry and hot. The heat is to be expected but it would have been nice if SB-E was 22nm and a little cooler using less volts.If I had money to burn i'd buy one but I think i'll hold out to see what IB-E is like.
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Originally Posted by SieB
Wow, scoring 10 on Cinebench strait out the box is amazing, a 2500K @ 4.7ghz scores about 7.9 so that goes to show just how powerful this CPU is. Also, 48,000 PPD at stock .... The only thing I have against SB-E is that it is still 32nm, power hungry and hot. The heat is to be expected but it would have been nice if SB-E was 22nm and a little cooler using less volts.If I had money to burn i'd buy one but I think i'll hold out to see what IB-E is like. |
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Originally Posted by Azurite
When do you think IB-E will be launched? |
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Originally Posted by SieB
Not for a while, probably a years time but i'm planning on upgrading to normal Ivy when it comes out first half of next year and then to Ivy Bridge-E when it does come out. |
OMFG what a chip Intel blows everything out of the water again!!! Great review as always Tom never got bored for a second keep up the great work
Awesome stuff, Shame its out of my price range.
I wounder how long it will be before some these hard core guys try activate those 2 other cores and see if the succeed.
I wounder how long it will be before some these hard core guys try activate those 2 other cores and see if the succeed.
i think 3930k is the best bang for your buck AND I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Originally Posted by mrDMxtreme
i think 3930k is the best bang for your buck AND I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
.probably have to wait for x-mas to save some mooney .... but here in canada just the 3930k is ~600 dollar and the boards are 280+
Damn this is a monster
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Originally Posted by mrDMxtreme
probably have to wait for x-mas to save some mooney .... but here in canada just the 3930k is ~600 dollar and the boards are 280+ |
not sure if you watch your own vids tom???
after 35min er so your camera starts going dark/light/dark/light.......
and
yer mic's commin thru with a fair bit a white noise once that starts.......
may be time for a new one.....not like it owes you anything....its make HOURS of great oc3d goodness for all of us......
thanx again
bTx
after 35min er so your camera starts going dark/light/dark/light.......
and
yer mic's commin thru with a fair bit a white noise once that starts.......
may be time for a new one.....not like it owes you anything....its make HOURS of great oc3d goodness for all of us......
thanx again
bTx
Prices are already out, it's £431.99 for the 3930K and £767.99 for the 3960X.
Prices of the ASUS mobos are
P9X79 Deluxe £233.79
P9X79 Pro £189.79
P9X79 Standard £183.79
Rampage IV £266.79
Sabertooth £207.79
I haven't looked up the prices for other boards only ASUS.
EDIT: motherboard prices are without 20% VAT.
Prices of the ASUS mobos are
P9X79 Deluxe £233.79
P9X79 Pro £189.79
P9X79 Standard £183.79
Rampage IV £266.79
Sabertooth £207.79
I haven't looked up the prices for other boards only ASUS.
EDIT: motherboard prices are without 20% VAT.
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Originally Posted by SieB
Prices are already out, it's £431.99 for the 3930K and £767.99 for the 3960X. Prices of the ASUS mobos are P9X79 Deluxe £233.79 P9X79 Pro £189.79 P9X79 Standard £183.79 Rampage IV £266.79 Sabertooth £207.79 I haven't looked up the prices for other boards only ASUS. |
.Forgot to say those mother board prices are without VAT 
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Originally Posted by SieB
Forgot to say those mother board prices are without VAT |
Just waiting for cpus to be in stock, which doesn't seem to be anywhere.
Hehe
I love how this chip performes. Wonder how well the benches are when it is clocked.
I love how this chip performes. Wonder how well the benches are when it is clocked.
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Originally Posted by Diablo
Just waiting for cpus to be in stock, which doesn't seem to be anywhere. |
Edit: And the i7 3960X is in stock at Overclockers.
The specs for the 3930k and 3960X are very similar so I don't understand why the 3960X costs so much more.
i7-3930K
- Core Size: 32nm
- Socket: LGA2011
- Six Core
- Frequency: 3.20GHz (3.80GHz TURBO)
- Multiplier: 32x (Upto 40x available)
- L2 Cache: 6x 256KB
- L3 Cache: 12MB
- TDP: 130W
- DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER
- 3yr Warranty
i7 3960X
- Core Size: 32nm
- Socket: LGA2011
- Six Core
- Frequency: 3.30GHz (3.90GHz TURBO)
- Multiplier: 33x (Unlocked Multiplier)
- L2 Cache: 6x 256KB
- L3 Cache: 15MB
- TDP: 130W
- DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER
- 3yr Warranty
The differences seem minimal to me, so why is the price difference so large. Will the 3960X clock higher or what?
i7-3930K
- Core Size: 32nm
- Socket: LGA2011
- Six Core
- Frequency: 3.20GHz (3.80GHz TURBO)
- Multiplier: 32x (Upto 40x available)
- L2 Cache: 6x 256KB
- L3 Cache: 12MB
- TDP: 130W
- DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER
- 3yr Warranty
i7 3960X
- Core Size: 32nm
- Socket: LGA2011
- Six Core
- Frequency: 3.30GHz (3.90GHz TURBO)
- Multiplier: 33x (Unlocked Multiplier)
- L2 Cache: 6x 256KB
- L3 Cache: 15MB
- TDP: 130W
- DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER
- 3yr Warranty
The differences seem minimal to me, so why is the price difference so large. Will the 3960X clock higher or what?
The highest end chip is always the most expensive, despite not giving that much more. Also aria's dates slipped from 18th --> 29th so I'm probably going to hope scan or somebody else can provide. Aria are definitely the best for the motherboards as far as I can tell though.
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Originally Posted by Diablo
The highest end chip is always the most expensive, despite not giving that much more. Also aria's dates slipped from 18th --> 29th so I'm probably going to hope scan or somebody else can provide. Aria are definitely the best for the motherboards as far as I can tell though. |
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Originally Posted by yassarikhan786
The specs for the 3930k and 3960X are very similar so I don't understand why the 3960X costs so much more. i7-3930K - Core Size: 32nm - Socket: LGA2011 - Six Core - Frequency: 3.20GHz (3.80GHz TURBO) - Multiplier: 32x (Upto 40x available) - L2 Cache: 6x 256KB - L3 Cache: 12MB - TDP: 130W - DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER - 3yr Warranty i7 3960X - Core Size: 32nm - Socket: LGA2011 - Six Core - Frequency: 3.30GHz (3.90GHz TURBO) - Multiplier: 33x (Unlocked Multiplier) - L2 Cache: 6x 256KB - L3 Cache: 15MB - TDP: 130W - DOES NOT INCLUDE COOLER - 3yr Warranty The differences seem minimal to me, so why is the price difference so large. Will the 3960X clock higher or what? |
Im getting the K model myself.
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Yes its not worth it. Though, i dont blame those who will spend money on it. Intel have done this for a long time now Im getting the K model myself. |
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Originally Posted by yassarikhan786
Yep, the K model is the much better option. I've read a few other reviews and they perform identically on most tests when OC'd to the same level . |
Do you know what 24/7 vcore they suggest using?
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Yeah it reminds me of the i7 920-930 vs the X. If i break my first chip i can get a new one. I couldnt do that if i bought the X one Do you know what 24/7 vcore they suggest using? |
mby they handpick the colden chips....thats why X series will cost more!
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Originally Posted by treboRR
mby they handpick the colden chips....thats why X series will cost more! |
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Hehe I love how this chip performes. Wonder how well the benches are when it is clocked. |
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Originally Posted by yggdrasil
... I wonder how long it will be before some hardcore guys try activate those 2 other cores and see if the succeed. |
Here's hoping that a large sum of money magically appears in my bank account.
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Do you know what 24/7 vcore they suggest using? |
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Originally Posted by ruthless
so 32% more performance for £500 more monies... hmmm so thats like paying £15 for a 1% increase in performance |
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Originally Posted by VonBlade
1.45v officially. |
LGA 2011 is awesome.
it eats everything AMD has to offer for breakfast on consumer level.
be interesting to see if it beats the new 16 core AMD server chip based on bulldozer.
think it would tbh but still will be good to see if AMD can beat intel chips on at least one section of the market
it eats everything AMD has to offer for breakfast on consumer level.
be interesting to see if it beats the new 16 core AMD server chip based on bulldozer.
think it would tbh but still will be good to see if AMD can beat intel chips on at least one section of the market
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Do you know what 24/7 vcore they suggest using? |
1.5v would be for watercooling and people that understand what overclocking is about.
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Originally Posted by SieB
Not for a while, probably a years time but i'm planning on upgrading to normal Ivy when it comes out first half of next year and then to Ivy Bridge-E when it does come out. |
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Originally Posted by Jerome
Do you keep all you rig's? |
Tom - any chance to do superpi 1M and 16M at 4.8-5.0 GHz tests?
So there will soon be launched a SB-E with 8 cores? Theres some news about it on techpowerup. Looks like im gonna wait a bit longer before i purchase my new cpu.
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Originally Posted by Azurite
So there will soon be launched a SB-E with 8 cores? Theres some news about it on techpowerup. Looks like im gonna wait a bit longer before i purchase my new cpu. |
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Originally Posted by yassarikhan786
The 8 cores should be monstrous . |
I read that the C1 stepping have a few issues that might be fixed in next batch, so il think il wait a bit and see what will happend. Also, the IB-E is launched Q4 2012, and it is compatible with X79 MB.
Correct me if im wrong. the 8 core SB-E is only for servers?
Why no quick sync on the SB-E?
The 8 cores are the Xeons, they are mainly for severs and aren't really designed for desktop use they are designed for use in dual configuration on Server motherboards like the SR3. Just looked at the specs as well and these Xeons have a 150w TDP
The reason there is no quick sync on SB-E is because they don't have the integrated graphics processor like SB, the IGP is used for quick sync.
I'm not sure about the IB-E news about them being compatible with X79 and the 2011 socket. They probably will be but i'm betting IB-E will have a new chipset when it's released, so even though they might be compatible with the X79 chipset and 2011 socket it will probably just be better to wait for the new chipset for IB-E. It's the same with the desktop Ivy Bridge CPUs as well, they are compatible with P67 and Z68 (gen 3 motherbaoards anyway) but Intel are releasing new motherboards with a new Z77 chipset when Ivy Bridge is released.
The reason there is no quick sync on SB-E is because they don't have the integrated graphics processor like SB, the IGP is used for quick sync.
I'm not sure about the IB-E news about them being compatible with X79 and the 2011 socket. They probably will be but i'm betting IB-E will have a new chipset when it's released, so even though they might be compatible with the X79 chipset and 2011 socket it will probably just be better to wait for the new chipset for IB-E. It's the same with the desktop Ivy Bridge CPUs as well, they are compatible with P67 and Z68 (gen 3 motherbaoards anyway) but Intel are releasing new motherboards with a new Z77 chipset when Ivy Bridge is released.
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Originally Posted by SieB
The 8 cores are the Xeons, they are mainly for severs and aren't really designed for desktop use they are designed for use in dual configuration on Server motherboards like the SR3. Just looked at the specs as well and these Xeons have a 150w TDP The reason there is no quick sync on SB-E is because they don't have the integrated graphics processor like SB, the IGP is used for quick sync. I'm not sure about the IB-E news about them being compatible with X79 and the 2011 socket. They probably will be but i'm betting IB-E will have a new chipset when it's released, so even though they might be compatible with the X79 chipset and 2011 socket it will probably just be better to wait for the new chipset for IB-E. It's the same with the desktop Ivy Bridge CPUs as well, they are compatible with P67 and Z68 (gen 3 motherbaoards anyway) but Intel are releasing new motherboards with a new Z77 chipset when Ivy Bridge is released. |
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Originally Posted by Azurite
Yeah that was what i thought. I didnt read the article well enough first time, so i thought it came a 8 core desktop cpu. Il grab a 3930k then, but i might wait for second batch. |
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Originally Posted by Black
Tom - any chance to do superpi 1M and 16M at 4.8-5.0 GHz tests? |
CSS Valid
We've been waiting patiently and now LGA2011 is finally here, so we'll take a look at the range topping Core i7-3960X.
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