Ryzen 3 3300X vs Core i7-5960X
Ryzen 3 3300X
Core i7-5960X
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 3300X
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5960X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($83) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-E (2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($83) |
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 Ryzen 3 3300X and Core i7-5960X
Ryzen 3 3300X
The Ryzen 3 3300X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,425 points. Launch price was $120.
Core i7-5960X
The Core i7-5960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-E (2014) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,382 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 3 3300X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-5960X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-5960X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3300X versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-5960X — a 20.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 3300X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-5960X uses Haswell-E (2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 13,425 against the Core i7-5960X's 13,382 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 3 3300X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 3300X vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i7-5960X.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+23% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+27% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) | Haswell-E (2014) |
| PassMark | 13,425 | 13,382 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,720 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,244 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 7,412 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-5960X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 3 3300X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 3 3300X) vs 4 (Core i7-5960X). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 3 3300X) vs 40 (Core i7-5960X) — the Core i7-5960X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 3 3300X) and X99 (Core i7-5960X).
| Feature | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 40+67% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 3 3300X) / Yes (Core i7-5960X).
| Feature | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 3 3300X launched at $120 MSRP, while the Core i7-5960X debuted at $999. At current prices ($90 vs $83), the Core i7-5960X is $7 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 3300X delivers 149.2 pts/$ vs 161.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-5960X — making the Core i7-5960X the 7.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i7-5960X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $120-88% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $90 | $83-8% |
| Performance per Dollar | 149.2 | 161.2+8% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2014 |
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