Core i7-880 vs Core i7-960
Core i7-880
Core i7-960
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 i7-880 is positioned at rank 1064 and the Core i7-960 is on rank 979, so the Core i7-960 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-880
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+177%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 i7-880 and Core i7-960
Core i7-880
The Core i7-880 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,429 points. Launch price was $583.
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-880 and Core i7-960 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Core i7-880 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 7.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-880 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-880 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-880 scores 3,429 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-880. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz+8% | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz | 3.2 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,429 | 3,400 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 507 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,478 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-880 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i7-880) / not specified (Core i7-960).
| Feature | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-880 launched at $583 MSRP, while the Core i7-960 debuted at $309. At current prices ($40 vs $110), the Core i7-880 is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-880 delivers 85.7 pts/$ vs 30.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-960 — making the Core i7-880 the 94% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-880 | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $583 | $309-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-64% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 85.7+177% | 30.9 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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