Core i7-2960XM vs Opteron 6220
Core i7-2960XM
Opteron 6220
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 i7-2960XM is positioned at rank 60 and the Opteron 6220 is on rank 71, so the Core i7-2960XM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2960XM
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2960XM | Opteron 6220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($239) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2960XM | Opteron 6220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($239) |
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 i7-2960XM and Opteron 6220
Core i7-2960XM
The Core i7-2960XM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,709 points. Launch price was $1,096.
Opteron 6220
The Opteron 6220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,753 points. Launch price was $523.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2960XM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Opteron 6220 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 6220 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-2960XM versus 3.6 GHz on the Opteron 6220 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2960XM (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-2960XM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6220 uses Interlagos (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2960XM scores 4,709 against the Opteron 6220's 4,753 — a 0.9% lead for the Opteron 6220. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-2960XM | Opteron 6220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+3% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (per module)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Interlagos (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 4,709 | 4,753 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2960XM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 6220 uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2960XM | Opteron 6220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-2960XM) / not specified (Opteron 6220). The Core i7-2960XM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Opteron 6220 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2960XM rivals Core i7-2820QM.
| Feature | Core i7-2960XM | Opteron 6220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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