
Core i7-4960X vs Xeon E7450

Core i7-4960X

Xeon E7450
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 i7-4960X is positioned at rank 998 and the Xeon E7450 is on rank 573, so the Xeon E7450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4960X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E7450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($136) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+70%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($136) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 i7-4960X and Xeon E7450

Core i7-4960X
The Core i7-4960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,935 points. Launch price was $999.

Xeon E7450
The Xeon E7450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L3 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 90 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 9,932 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-4960X is built on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-4960X scores 9,935 against the Xeon E7450's 9,932 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-4960X. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-4960X vs 12 MB L3 Cache on the Xeon E7450.
| Feature | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | — |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+50% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+25% | 12 MB L3 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) | — |
| PassMark | 9,935 | 9,932 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4960X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E7450 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-4960X) / not specified (Xeon E7450). Primary use case: Core i7-4960X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-4960X launched at $990 MSRP, while the Xeon E7450 debuted at $417. At current prices ($136 vs $80), the Xeon E7450 is $56 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-4960X delivers 73.1 pts/$ vs 124.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E7450 — making the Xeon E7450 the 51.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-4960X | Xeon E7450 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $990 | $417-58% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $136 | $80-41% |
| Performance per Dollar | 73.1 | 124.2+70% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2008 |
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