Intel Core i7-4960X vs Intel Core i7-5960X

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Core i7-4960X compared with Core i7-5960X

	IntelCore i7-4960X	IntelCore i7-5960X
Overview
Released
Released	September 2013	August 2014
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	8 (better)
Threads
Threads	12	16 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.6 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4 GHz (better)	3.5 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	20 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Ivy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Haswell-E; 8 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.00 GHz. September availability follows contemporary Ivy Bridge-E store availability coverage and Expert Reviews’ 10 September exact-model review with a retail supplier and price. Intel gives Q3 2013; an exact maker first-sale day was not established.	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz. August release month follows PCWorld’s 29 August report that Intel was shipping the models and TechSpot’s same-day expected retail availability. Intel’s 29 August notice instead says the three SKUs will be available next week; an exact maker first-sale day is unresolved.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011-v3
Base power
Base power	130 W	140 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 64 GB; four channels of DDR3-1333/1600/1866; maximum bandwidth 59.7 GB/s; no ECC.	Up to 64 GB; four channels of DDR4-1600/1866/2133; maximum bandwidth 68 GB/s; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	X99 and LGA2011-v3, distinguished by Intel’s exact-model comparison chart and the reviews. Current ARK abbreviates the socket as FCLGA2011; this is not compatible with the older X79 LGA2011 platform.
Process
Process	22 nm; Ivy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.	22 nm; Haswell-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.