Core i7-3960X vs Xeon E5-1660
Core i7-3960X
Xeon E5-1660
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 E5-1660 is on rank 924, so the Xeon E5-1660 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 E5-1660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+105%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
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 E5-1660
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 E5-1660
The Xeon E5-1660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 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: 15360 kB (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: 8,324 points. Launch price was $290.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-3960X and Xeon E5-1660 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-3960X scores 8,402 against the Xeon E5-1660's 8,324 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-3960X. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,402 | 8,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 658 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,973 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| 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 (Xeon E5-1660).
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-3960X launched at $999 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1660 debuted at $1080. At current prices ($60 vs $29), the Xeon E5-1660 is $31 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-3960X delivers 140.0 pts/$ vs 287.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1660 — making the Xeon E5-1660 the 68.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-3960X | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $999-8% | $1080 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60 | $29-52% |
| Performance per Dollar | 140.0 | 287.0+105% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2012 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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