The Core i5-12500 is a clear winner – it's at least 2x faster gaming CPU than the Core i7-3960X and it's also a much better value for money, as it's CA$257.63 cheaper!
Advantages of the Core i5-12500
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- Up to 52% cheaper – CA$242.37 vs CA$500.00
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 50% less energy – 65 vs 130 Watts
- Has an integrated GPU, while the Core i7-3960X cannot run games without a dedicated GPU
Advantages of the Core i7-3960X
The Core i5-12500 is better in every way
Core i5-12500 vs Core i7-3960X for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i5-12500
Jan 4th, 2022
Average FPS
206
100%
Min 1% FPS
135
100%
Price, CA$
CA$242.37
100%
Value, CA$/FPS
CA$1.17/FPS
100%
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Average FPS
171
83%
Min 1% FPS
115
85%
Price, CA$
CA$500
48%
Value, CA$/FPS
CA$2.92/FPS
40%
Core i5-12500 vs Core i7-3960X in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i5-12500 vs Core i7-3960X in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i5-12500 vs Core i7-3960X in core CPU performance specifications
Core i5-12500
Jan 4th, 2022
Cores
6-core
100%
L3 Cache
18 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3 GHz
91%
Turbo Frequency
4.6 GHz
100%
Max. DDR5 RAM Speed
4800 MHz
100%
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Cores
6-core
100%
L3 Cache
15 MB
83%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
3.9 GHz
85%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
33%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i5-12500 | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Jan 4th, 2022 | Release Date | Nov 14th, 2011 |
$212.00 | MSRP | $990.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 1700 | Socket | Intel Socket 2011 |
| Alder Lake | Codename | Sandy Bridge E |
65 W | Power Consumption | 130 W |
| Performance | ||
| 6 | Cores | 6 |
| 12 | Threads | 12 |
| 3.0 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
4.6 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 3.9 GHz |
18 MB | L3 Cache | 15 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR4 @ 3200 MHz, DDR5 @ 4800 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1600 MHz |
UHD Graphics 770 | Integrated Graphics | No |
| No | Overclockable | Yes |
