Core i7-3960X vs Core i7-8559U

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-3960X

2011

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8559U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $999 MSRP, while Core i7-8559U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌364.3% higher power demand at 130W vs 28W.

Core i7-8559U

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 130W, a 102W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,274 vs 8,402).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 15 MB).

Core i7-3960X

2011

Core i7-8559U

2018

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 130W, a 102W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8559U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $999 MSRP, while Core i7-8559U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌364.3% higher power demand at 130W vs 28W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,274 vs 8,402).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 15 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-8559U better than Core i7-3960X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-8559U is ahead with a 4.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3960X pulls ahead with 1.5% better PassMark. Core i7-3960X also has the bigger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3960X is the better fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-8559U is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-8559U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $999 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-3960X only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (8.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2011.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-8559U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-3960X Benchmark Check

Core i7-8559U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
1080p
low	163 FPS	173 FPS
medium	141 FPS	141 FPS
high	113 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	148 FPS
medium	116 FPS	120 FPS
high	92 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	63 FPS	84 FPS
medium	57 FPS	74 FPS
high	44 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i7-3960X Open Core i7-8559U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
1080p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	205 FPS	207 FPS
high	186 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	150 FPS	207 FPS
1440p
low	208 FPS	207 FPS
medium	181 FPS	207 FPS
high	164 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	180 FPS
4K
low	163 FPS	207 FPS
medium	144 FPS	184 FPS
high	128 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	124 FPS

Open Core i7-3960X Open Core i7-8559U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
1080p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS
4K
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i7-3960X Open Core i7-8559U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
1080p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS
4K
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	210 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i7-3960X Open Core i7-8559U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-3960X and Core i7-8559U

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 i7-8559U

The Core i7-8559U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,274 points. Launch price was $431.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-3960X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-8559U 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 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-8559U — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-8559U (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-3960X uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-8559U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3960X scores 8,402 against the Core i7-8559U's 8,274 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i7-3960X. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8559U.

Feature	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.5 GHz+15%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+22%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	15 MB (total)+88%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
PassMark	8,402+2%	8,274
Geekbench 6 Single	658	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,973	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-3960X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-8559U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-8559U
Socket	LGA2011	FCBGA1528
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—