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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition 3.3Ghz Socket 2011

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition features 6 cores with Hyper-Threading for 12 thread support. This model comes clocked at 3.3GHz with a Turbo frequency of up to 3.9GHz and TDP rating of 130 watts. Like all Sandy Bridge-E processors it supports quad-channel DDR3-1600 memory. However unlike some Extreme Edition models, the new Core i7 3960X receives a massive 15MB L3 cache which is shared across all six cores.

Based on 27 reviews

Excellent:

11
Good:

10
Average:

4
Bad:

2

Pros

Staggering level of performance.
48 PCIE lanes as compared to the 24 lanes of a Sandy Bridge system.
Up to 12 threads on six cores.
Massive 15MB Intel Smart Cache.
Unlocked Multiplier.
Turbo Boost 2.0.
Improved CPU socket loading mechanism.
AES instructions and Disable Security Bit functions.
AVX Vector Extensions.
As of late 2011, fastest consumer desktop CPU available.
Fastest consumer chip in the world, Sandy Bridge architecture's potential extended.
Supports dual PCIe x16 video cards at full speed, Includes full range of Sandy Bridge features, Low power usage.

Cons

Very expensive.
Requires new X79based motherboard, which is also expensive.
Few consumer level applications will take full advantage of its power.
Not a huge leap over 990X in many common apps.
Needs additional outlay for X79 motherboard.
No integrated video.
Quick Sync technology.
Performance within line of sight of top-end Sandy Bridge chips.

By TechSpot on November 14, 2011

Three years later, we are finally able to put the X58/LGA1366 platform to rest, in what's virtually been Intel's flagship platform for the entire duration. Sandy Bridge gave the platform a run for its money earlier this year, but in the remainder

80
By The Inquirer on March 06, 2012

While even Intel now admits that clock speed isn't everything, there are workloads where high frequency processors are favoured over those with more cores running at lower frequencies. One of the use-cases both AMD and Intel provide is high...

80
By PCWorld New Zealand on February 13, 2012

Intel Core i7-3930K rating: 4/5 stars.Intel Core i7-3960X rating: 3/5 stars.As if Intel didn’t have a big enough lead in the CPU performance stakes with their Sandy Bridge family of chips, it’s gone ahead and released a new series named Sandy Bridge-E...

60
By The Inquirer on February 10, 2012

The full eight-core die rollout is reserved for the server and workstation parts that are due for launch a month from now, so while the die has eight cores, all the chips Intel sells have only six cores enabled at present. How is the base...

90
By Tech2 on December 31, 2011

When comes to raw performance and number crunching abilities, the Core i7-3960X is in a league of its own. When it comes to video encoding, the CPU gets to stretch its legs as it puhes past the 2600K. While all this power is great fun, other than a...

70
By BeHardware on December 26, 2011

Intel has driven home its advantage with the release of the Core i7-3960X, which is now the fastest desktop processor on the market. As long as an application correctly exploits the six cores at its disposal, there's no competition for this...

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By Phoronix on December 13, 2011

This should not be a huge surprise, but the Intel Core i7 3960X "Sandy Bridge" Extreme Edition processor is one hell of a fast processor for desktops and workstations. For computationally-intense tests, the i7-3960X is a measurable upgrade over even...

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By itreviews.com on December 12, 2011

Review date: 12 December, 2011. Review by: Leo Waldock Intel's new Core i7-3960X Extreme processor marks the debut of Sandy Bridge-E. The E suffix stands for Extreme so it follows quite logically that Sandy Bridge-E combines Sandy Bridge Core i5/i7...

80
By Atomic MPC on December 06, 2011

Fantastic performance at a fantastical pricetag. Worth it if you know you need the CPU grunt, but overkill for the rest of...

85
By Techgage on November 28, 2011

As was proven many times throughout this article, Intel has once again delivered the world's fastest desktop processor with its Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition. This of course comes as no surprise, as it's based on what we already knew to be the...

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