Core i7-3960X vs Core i5-1140G7
Core i7-3960X
Core i5-1140G7
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 i7-3960X is positioned at rank 1024 and the Core i5-1140G7 is on rank 727, so the Core i5-1140G7 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3960X
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1140G7
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Core i5-1140G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Core i5-1140G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-3960X and Core i5-1140G7
Core i7-3960X
The Core i7-3960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,402 points. Launch price was $861.
Core i5-1140G7
The Core i5-1140G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 5 MB. Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1598. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 MB + 8 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,471 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3960X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-1140G7 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-3960X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-1140G7 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-1140G7 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i7-3960X uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-1140G7 uses Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i7-3960X scores 8,402 against the Core i5-1140G7's 8,471 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-1140G7. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X vs 8 MB on the Core i5-1140G7.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Core i5-1140G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+83% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 5 MB+1900% |
| Process | 32 nm | 10 nm SuperFin-69% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 8,402 | 8,471 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 658 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,973 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3960X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-1140G7 uses FCBGA1598 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Core i5-1140G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FCBGA1598 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i7-3960X) / not specified (Core i5-1140G7).
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Core i5-1140G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-3960X and Core i5-1140G7
