CPU
GPU
Opteron 6386 SE
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 Opteron 6386 SE is positioned at rank 33 and the Core i7-3960X is on rank 1024, so the Opteron 6386 SE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6386 SE
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Abu Dhabi (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1386%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($880) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Opteron 6386 SE and Core i7-3960X
Opteron 6386 SE
The Opteron 6386 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $2,408.
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 Opteron 6386 SE packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-3960X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Opteron 6386 SE has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 6386 SE versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3960X — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3960X (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Opteron 6386 SE uses the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-3960X uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6386 SE scores 8,291 against the Core i7-3960X's 8,402 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-3960X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6386 SE vs 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3960X.
| Feature | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+167% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.3 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+6300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Abu Dhabi (2012) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,291 | 8,402+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 658 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,973 |
Memory & Platform
The Opteron 6386 SE uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3960X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G34 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | 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 (Opteron 6386 SE) / Yes (Core i7-3960X).
| Feature | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Opteron 6386 SE launched at $1392 MSRP, while the Core i7-3960X debuted at $999. At current prices ($880 vs $60), the Core i7-3960X is $820 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Opteron 6386 SE delivers 9.4 pts/$ vs 140.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-3960X — making the Core i7-3960X the 174.8% better value option.
| Feature | Opteron 6386 SE | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1392 | $999-28% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $880 | $60-93% |
| Performance per Dollar | 9.4 | 140.0+1389% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Opteron 6386 SE and Core i7-3960X
