Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition compared with Core Ultra 9 285K

	IntelCore i7-3960X Extreme Edition	IntelCore Ultra 9 285K
Overview
Released
Released	November 2011	October 2024
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	24 (8 performance, 16 efficiency) (better)
Threads
Threads	12	24 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.3 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.9 GHz	5.7 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	36 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Six cores and twelve threads with Hyper-Threading; fully unlocked multiplier confirmed by Intel’s exact product brief. Intel states that VT-d requires C2 stepping.	8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores, no Hyper-Threading; codename Arrow Lake
Clocks
Clocks	3.30 GHz base and up to 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost 2.0. Intel gives Q4 2011; EE Times’ contemporary 14 November report quotes Intel confirming the exact model is available now. Newegg’s earlier listing date alone does not establish sale.	P-core base 3.7 GHz, max turbo 5.5 GHz; E-core base 3.2 GHz, max turbo 4.6 GHz; Turbo Boost Max 3.0 5.6 GHz; Thermal Velocity Boost 5.7 GHz
Cache
Cache	15 MB shared L3 cache.	36 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3); 40 MB L2
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	Yes
Graphics
Graphics	Intel’s exact-model Extreme Edition chart lists no processor graphics.	Intel Graphics, 4 Xe-cores, up to 2 GHz; outputs eDP1.4b, DP 2.1 UHBR20, HDMI 2.1 FRL; up to 4 displays; H.264, HEVC and AV1 encode and decode
AI engine
AI engine	–	Intel AI Boost NPU, 13 TOPS (INT8); 36 TOPS for the whole processor
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA1851
Base power
Base power	130 W	125 W
Maximum power
Maximum power	–	250 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	–
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 64 GB across four DDR3-1066/1333/1600 channels; maximum 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC.	Up to DDR5 6400 MT/s; 2 channels, up to 256 GB; ECC supported
PCIe
PCIe	40 PCIe 2.0 lanes in Intel’s current exact specification page.	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; 24 lanes (Up to 1x16+2x4, 2x8+2x4, 1x8+4x4); DMI 4 x8; Thunderbolt 4 built in
Process
Process	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package 52.5 × 45.0 mm; Intel’s 66.8°C limit is TCASE, not junction temperature.	TSMC N3B (CPU)
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly says the boxed product has no fan or heatsink. Requires separate LGA2011-compatible cooling; the original product brief names X79.	max operating temperature 105 °C; thermal specification PCG 2020A