Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition Processor (Sandy Bridge-E) Review
Conclusion
There can be no doubting the performance of the i7-3960X. It truly is a monster. Our results have shown it tops the tables in everything you can throw at it from CPU arithmetic to memory bandwidth. Whatever your need, the Intel i7-3960X will satisfy your craving for outright performance. Throughout our suite of benchmarks, the i7-3960X consistently took apart the competition which is testament to the awesome processing power this new range of CPU’s have to offer. That however is just for starters.
Experiencing the power of this processor while overclocked was nothing short of spectacular. There are few components that make my jaw drop these days but witnessing this processor in action was truly awe inspiring. My face was akin to the famous Scream mask such was the blistering speed the processor produced. It wasn’t only the CPU speed either as having quad channel memory made the whole setup blisteringly quick. While it is debateable if a home user would ever need such extravagances and masses of bandwidth after all, it wasn’t so long ago that we (me included) ridiculed those looking for 4GB of ram. Who would ever need such a ‘huge’ amount of physical memory? Indeed times change along with peoples requirments.
If you have ever sat waiting for Photoshop to process huge batch files or indeed gone to make a cup of tea as Winrar was taking an age then you will certainly see the benefits of such a setup. With HD video editing now much more mainstream, working with larger files requires more speed and more memory if we are to keep the cobwebs at bay while processing these files. This is where a the Intel core i7-3960X comes into its own.
The bad news however is the price of this beast. Estimated to be around the £900 mark it is anything but cheap and no doubt will be out of reach for the majority of enthusiasts. Extreme Edition chips have traditionally held a premium and this version is no different. While it will soon be succeeded by the hugely anticipated ‘Ivy Bridge’ range of processors, this will not deter those who are looking for the absolute pinnacle of processing power which at present is the Intel i7-3960X Sandybridge-E processor and for that reason alone is deserving of the Vortez Elite and Platinum awards.
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to Intel for providing todays review sample.
Experiencing the power of this processor while overclocked was nothing short of spectacular. There are few components that make my jaw drop these days but witnessing this processor in action was truly awe inspiring. My face was akin to the famous Scream mask such was the blistering speed the processor produced. It wasn’t only the CPU speed either as having quad channel memory made the whole setup blisteringly quick. While it is debateable if a home user would ever need such extravagances and masses of bandwidth after all, it wasn’t so long ago that we (me included) ridiculed those looking for 4GB of ram. Who would ever need such a ‘huge’ amount of physical memory? Indeed times change along with peoples requirments.
If you have ever sat waiting for Photoshop to process huge batch files or indeed gone to make a cup of tea as Winrar was taking an age then you will certainly see the benefits of such a setup. With HD video editing now much more mainstream, working with larger files requires more speed and more memory if we are to keep the cobwebs at bay while processing these files. This is where a the Intel core i7-3960X comes into its own.
The bad news however is the price of this beast. Estimated to be around the £900 mark it is anything but cheap and no doubt will be out of reach for the majority of enthusiasts. Extreme Edition chips have traditionally held a premium and this version is no different. While it will soon be succeeded by the hugely anticipated ‘Ivy Bridge’ range of processors, this will not deter those who are looking for the absolute pinnacle of processing power which at present is the Intel i7-3960X Sandybridge-E processor and for that reason alone is deserving of the Vortez Elite and Platinum awards.
Pros
+ Breathtaking Performance
+ Ultra High Overclocking
+ Cool Running
+ High Efficiency
+ Bragging Rights!
Cons
- Nothing but the price!
+ Breathtaking Performance
+ Ultra High Overclocking
+ Cool Running
+ High Efficiency
+ Bragging Rights!
Cons
- Nothing but the price!
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to Intel for providing todays review sample.
