Core i7-960 vs Atom Z3740
Core i7-960
Atom Z3740
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 i7-960 is positioned at rank 979 and the Atom Z3740 is on rank 172, so the Atom Z3740 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z3740
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Atom Z3740 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Atom Z3740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ 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 i7-960 and Atom Z3740
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.
Atom Z3740
The Atom Z3740 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,380 points. Launch price was $32.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Atom Z3740's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 1.86 GHz on the Atom Z3740 — a 60.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.33 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom Z3740 uses Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the Atom Z3740's 3,380 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 0 kB on the Atom Z3740.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Atom Z3740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+86% | 1.86 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+141% | 1.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,380 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom Z3740 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Atom Z3740 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | UTFCBGA1380 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
The Atom Z3740 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Atom Z3740 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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