CPU
GPU
EPYC 8324PN
Core i7-3960X
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 EPYC 8324PN is positioned at rank 613 and the Core i7-3960X is on rank 1024, so the EPYC 8324PN offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 8324PN
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 8324PN | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Siena (2023−2024) / 5 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 8324PN | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 EPYC 8324PN and Core i7-3960X
EPYC 8324PN
The EPYC 8324PN is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 18 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Siena (2023−2024) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.05 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 8,375 points. Launch price was $2,125.
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.
Processing Power
The EPYC 8324PN packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Core i7-3960X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 8324PN has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the EPYC 8324PN versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-3960X (base: 2.05 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The EPYC 8324PN uses the Siena (2023−2024) architecture (5 nm), while the Core i7-3960X uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 8324PN scores 8,375 against the Core i7-3960X's 8,402 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-3960X. L3 cache: 128 MB (total) on the EPYC 8324PN vs 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X.
| Feature | EPYC 8324PN | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 32 / 64+433% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.9 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 2.05 GHz | 3.3 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 128 MB (total)+753% | 15 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-84% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Siena (2023−2024) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,375 | 8,402 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 658 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,973 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 8324PN uses the SP6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-3960X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | EPYC 8324PN | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP6 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (EPYC 8324PN) / Yes (Core i7-3960X).
| Feature | EPYC 8324PN | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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