The Core i7-3960X is a slightly faster gaming CPU than the Core i5-2500, however, it's a much worse value for money, as it's $132.44 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i7-3960X
- A slightly faster CPU for gaming
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 12 vs 4 threads
Advantages of the Core i5-2500
- Up to 49% cheaper – $135.87 vs $268.31
- A better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 27% less energy – 95 vs 130 Watts
- Has an integrated GPU, while the Core i7-3960X cannot run games without a dedicated GPU
Core i7-3960X vs Core i5-2500 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Average FPS
171
100%
Min 1% FPS
115
100%
Price, $
$268.31
50%
Value, $/FPS
$1.56/FPS
51%
Core i5-2500
Jan 9th, 2011
Average FPS
170
99%
Min 1% FPS
114
99%
Price, $
$135.87
100%
Value, $/FPS
$0.79/FPS
100%
Core i7-3960X vs Core i5-2500 in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
Add a Game
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i7-3960X vs Core i5-2500 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i7-3960X vs Core i5-2500 in core CPU performance specifications
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Cores
6-core
100%
L3 Cache
15 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
3.9 GHz
100%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
100%
Core i5-2500
Jan 9th, 2011
Cores
4-core
67%
L3 Cache
6 MB
40%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
3.7 GHz
95%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
MHz
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i7-3960X | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i5-2500 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Nov 14th, 2011 | Release Date | Jan 9th, 2011 |
| $990.00 | MSRP | Not Available |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 2011 | Socket | Intel Socket 1155 |
| Sandy Bridge E | Codename | Sandy Bridge |
| 130 W | Power Consumption | 95 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 4 |
12 | Threads | 4 |
| 3.3 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
3.9 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 3.7 GHz |
15 MB | L3 Cache | 6 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | RAM | DDR3 |
| No | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
