Intel Core i7-4960X vs Intel Core i5-2515E

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Core i7-4960X or Intel Core i7-4960X – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i7-4960X features 6 processor cores and has the capability to manage 12 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2013 and belongs to the 4 generation of the Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition series.
To use the Intel Core i7-4960X, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 2011 socket.
The Intel Core i5-2515E features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q1/2011 and belongs to the 2 generation of the Intel Core i5 series.
To use the Intel Core i5-2515E, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA 1023 socket.
4 Generation 2
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition Family Intel Core i5
Intel Core i 4000X Group Intel Core i 2000M
Intel Core i7-4960X Name Intel Core i5-2515E
Desktop / Server Segment Mobile
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-4960X has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-4960X is 3.6 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 4.0 GHz.
The number of CPU cores greatly affects the speed of the processor and is an important performance indicator.
The Intel Core i5-2515E has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i5-2515E is 2.5 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 3.1 GHz.
6 CPU Cores 2
12 Threads 4
4.0 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) 3.1 GHz
3.6 GHz Frequency 2.5 GHz
6x Cores 2x
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Overclocking No
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
4.0 GHz Turbo Frequency (all cores) None
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i7-4960X does not have integrated graphics.
The Intel Core i5-2515E has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i5-2515E uses the Intel HD Graphics 2000, which has 48 texture shaders
and 6 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
-- Generation 6
-- Release date Q1/2011
-- Max. displays --
-- Execution units 6
-- Shaders 48
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.1 GHz
-- GPU frequency 0.85 GHz
-- Technology 32 nm
GPU name Intel HD Graphics 2000
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
-- Direct X 10.1
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
-- JPEG No
-- h264 Decode / Encode
-- AV1 No
-- VP9 No
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
-- AVC Decode / Encode
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
-- VP8 No
-- VC-1 Decode
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 64.0 GB distributed across 4 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 16.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
4 Memory channels 2
64.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
DDR3-1866 Memory type DDR3-1333
Yes AES-NI Yes
59.7 GB/s Bandwidth 21.3 GB/s
No ECC No
pci PCIe pci
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 130 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 35 W watts.
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 35 W
-- Tjunction max 100 °C
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-4960X is manufactured using a 22 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 15.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i5-2515E is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 3.0 MB cache.
Q3/2013 Release date Q1/2011
Ivy Bridge E Architecture Sandy Bridge H
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
15.0 MB L3-Cache 3.0 MB
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
22 nm Technology 32 nm
LGA 2011 Socket BGA 1023
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
-- Part Number --
960 $ Release price --
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
0 bytes L2-Cache 0 bytes