Core i7-3960X vs Opteron 6386 SE
Core i7-3960X
Opteron 6386 SE
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 Opteron 6386 SE is on rank 33, so the Opteron 6386 SE 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 Opteron 6386 SE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Abu Dhabi (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1386%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) |
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 Opteron 6386 SE
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.
Opteron 6386 SE
The Opteron 6386 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $2,408.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3960X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Opteron 6386 SE offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6386 SE has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 6386 SE — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3960X (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-3960X uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6386 SE uses Abu Dhabi (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3960X scores 8,402 against the Opteron 6386 SE's 8,291 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-3960X. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6386 SE.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 16 / 16+167% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+11% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Abu Dhabi (2012) |
| PassMark | 8,402+1% | 8,291 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 658 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,973 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3960X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 6386 SE uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 (Opteron 6386 SE).
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-3960X launched at $999 MSRP, while the Opteron 6386 SE debuted at $1392. At current prices ($60 vs $880), the Core i7-3960X is $820 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-3960X delivers 140.0 pts/$ vs 9.4 pts/$ for the Opteron 6386 SE — making the Core i7-3960X the 174.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Opteron 6386 SE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $999-28% | $1392 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-93% | $880 |
| Performance per Dollar | 140.0+1389% | 9.4 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2012 |
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 Opteron 6386 SE
