Core i5-7200U vs Core i7-960
Core i5-7200U
Core i7-960
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-7200U is positioned at rank 643 and the Core i7-960 is on rank 979, so the Core i5-7200U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7200U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7200U | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7200U | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7200U and Core i7-960
Core i5-7200U
The Core i5-7200U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,369 points. Launch price was $281.
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7200U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-960 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-960 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-7200U versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 11% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-7200U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7200U scores 3,369 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-7200U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960.
| Feature | Core i5-7200U | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.46 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,369 | 3,400 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7200U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-7200U | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7200U) / not specified (Core i7-960). The Core i5-7200U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7200U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-7200U | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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