Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Core i7-6900K

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Core i7-5960X compared with Core i7-6900K

	IntelCore i7-5960X	IntelCore i7-6900K
Overview
Released
Released	August 2014	May 2016
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	8	8
Threads
Threads	16	16
Base clock
Base clock	3 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.5 GHz	4 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	20 MB	20 MB
Cores
Cores	Haswell-E; 8 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Broadwell-E; 8 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	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.	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.00 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.70 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. May availability follows Tom’s Hardware’s 31 May 2016 report, attributing immediate sale of all four models to Intel. Intel’s family record is dated 30 May and ARK gives Q2 2016; the announcement day is not treated as an exact first-sale day.
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-v3	LGA2011-v3
Base power
Base power	140 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 DDR4-1600/1866/2133; maximum bandwidth 68 GB/s; no ECC.	Up to 128 GB; four channels of DDR4-2133/2400; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	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.	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; Haswell-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.	14 nm; Broadwell-E.
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.