Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Processor Preview

By David Ramsey

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation.
Product Name: Desktop Processor Extreme Edition
Model Number: Core i7-5960X
MSRP: $999.00 (B&H Photo)

Full Disclosure: Intel provided the product sample used in this article.

Intel has upped the ante for LGA2011 systems with the new LGA2011-V3 specification, comprising the new X99 chipset and Haswell-E CPUs. The top-end Core i7-5960X is Intel’s first consumer 8-core CPU and boasts an amazing 20 megabytes of on-chip cache and a new quad-channel DDR4 memory controller. As with the original “Sandy Bridge Extreme” Core i7-3960X CPU, the new Haswell-E systems will be very expensive. Benchmark Reviews does the work so you can see if they make sense for you.

This article will discuss the specifications and architecture of Haswell-E and the new X99 LGA2011-V3 platform, with performance tests to follow shortly.

Features and specifications courtesy of Intel

• 8 Cores, 16 Threads
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
• Supports LGA2011-V3 socket Intel X99 Express Chipset-based motherboards
• Up to 20 MB Intel Smart Cache
• Integrated Quad-Channel Memory Controller (also supports dual and triple channel)
• 4 channels of DDR4 2133 MHz
• Up to 40 PCI Express Gen 3 Lanes

Processor	Base Clock	Max Turbo Clock	Cores/ Threads	Cache	PCI-E lanes	Memory	TDP	Socket	Price
i7-5960X	3.0gHz	3.5gHz	8/16	20MB	40	4 channels DDR4-2133	140W	2011-V3	$999
i7-5930K	3.5gHz	3.7gHz	6/12	15MB	40	4 channels DDR4-2133	140W	2011-V3	$583
i7-5820K	3.3gHz	3.6gHz	6/12	15MB	28	4 channels DDR4-2133	140W	2011-V3	$389
i7-4790K	4.0gHz	4.4gHz	4/8	8MB	16	2 channels DDR3-1600	88W	1150	$339
i5-4690K	3.5gHz	3.9gHz	4/4	6MB	16	2 channels DDR3-1600	88W	1150	$242

The top three CPU are comprise the new Haswell-E family. Note how the base and turbo clocks go down with the number of cores; in fact, the 5960X has lower clocks than the original 3960X, which had base and turbo clocks of 3.3 and 3.9gHz, respectively. The quad-core 4790K has clock speeds more than 30% higher, which, given that its core architecture is the same, should mean better performance in 4-thread or lower workloads.

Also, the 140 watt TDP means that you’re going to need a good CPU cooler; Intel recommends water cooler for any over clocking. At least LGA2011-V3 cooler mounting holes haven’t changed!

If you’re planning to run multiple GPUs, notice that the Core i7-5820K has only 28 PCI-E lanes.

Although LGA2011-V3 sockets are physically identical to the older LGA2011 sockets, they’re electrically different, and your Sandy Bridge Extreme or Ivy Bridge Extreme CPUs will not work (actually I’m not sure what would happen if you tried. If you do try, please let me know.) The new socket architecture is supported by Intel’s new X99 Express chipset. For comparison, here’s the architecture diagram of the X79 chipset:

…and here’s the diagram for the X99 Express chipset:

Looking at these diagrams, you can see that the major differences are:

• 40 PCI-E Gen 3 lanes from the CPU vs. 40 PCI-E Gen 2 lanes
• 2133MHz DDR4 memory instead of DDR3 memory
• Native USB 3.0 support. Finally.
• Increased communications speed between the chipset and its USB ports and PCI-E 2.0 lanes
• More SATA ports: 10 vs. 6

So, what can we expect from this new platform?

Benchmark Reviews is hard at work evaluating this new CPU with an ASUS X99-DELUXE motherboard and 16GB of Corsair DDR4 memory, and we’ll have the results for you soon.

Given that the individual cores in the Intel Core i7-5960X processor should be virtually identical to those in the Core i7-4770K/4790K, I’m expecting per-clock performance to be the same, which means that in normal workloads, the much cheaper ($339.99 at Newegg) quad-core CPU should be substantially faster, given that its base clock is a full 33% higher.

Still, as the die shot above shows, 8 cores and 20 megabytes of cache are nothing to sneeze at, and like its Sandy Bridge Extreme and Ivy Bridge Extreme forebears, I expect the Haswell-E 5960X to provide stellar results in heavily threaded workloads.

Enthusiasts remember the disappointing overclocking results with recent Intel CPUs; although Intel never confirmed it, the reason seems to be the thermal compound used between the die and the heat spreader. Allegedly this has been improved with the Haswell-E (as well as the new 4790K) and we hope to be able to hit 4.5GHz with our Corsair H100i water cooler.

Check back soon for the full benchmark performance review of this new CPU!