Core i7-3960X vs Xeon E3-1585 v5
Core i7-3960X
Xeon E3-1585 v5
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 Xeon E3-1585 v5 is on rank 345, so the Xeon E3-1585 v5 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 Xeon E3-1585 v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E3-1585 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E3-1585 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E3-1585 v5
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.
Xeon E3-1585 v5
The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L,LPDDR3 1600 MHz, DDR4 2133 MHz at 1.2V. Passmark benchmark score: 8,408 points. Launch price was $556.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3960X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 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 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1585 v5 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-3960X uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses Skylake-H (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3960X scores 8,402 against the Xeon E3-1585 v5's 8,408 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1585 v5. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1585 v5.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E3-1585 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Skylake-H (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 8,402 | 8,408 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 658 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,973 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3960X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses BGA1440 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E3-1585 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| 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 (Xeon E3-1585 v5).
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E3-1585 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
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