Core i7-960 vs Phenom II X6 1065T
Core i7-960
Phenom II X6 1065T
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 Phenom II X6 1065T is on rank 1030, 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 i7-960
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X6 1065T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Thuban (2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
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 Phenom II X6 1065T
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.
Phenom II X6 1065T
The Phenom II X6 1065T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,412 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Phenom II X6 1065T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Phenom II X6 1065T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 3.4 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1065T — a 1.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1065T uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the Phenom II X6 1065T's 3,412 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom II X6 1065T. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1065T.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+2% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+10% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Thuban (2010) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,412 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X6 1065T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-960 launched at $309 MSRP, while the Phenom II X6 1065T debuted at $426. At current prices ($110 vs $170), the Core i7-960 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-960 delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 20.1 pts/$ for the Phenom II X6 1065T — making the Core i7-960 the 42.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309-27% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-35% | $170 |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.9+54% | 20.1 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-960 and Phenom II X6 1065T
