[revlimiter]

This question probably makes me sound like a complete n00b but here goes anyways:

Why is the i7-2600K only priced at $300 and the i7-3940XM priced at over $1000?

http://ark.intel.com/products/series/53250
http://ark.intel.com/products/family/65505

They both have 4 cores and 8 threads, but what else makes the 3940M that much better?

Thanks,

 

[aznpersuazn]

First off, one is desktop while the i7-3940xm is designated as a mobile processor.

Also, the desktop model has a TDP of 95W while the mobile model has a TDP of 55W

 

[Rangerjr1]

The i7-3940XM has less thermal output (TDP) than the 2600k, also it is made for laptops. Its more expensive simply because its harder to make and more expensive to make. so to get a profit from it they have to sell it at that price.

Performance wise, they're the same at the same clocks.

 

[revlimiter]

Ahh OK Thanks, good to know and makes sense.

How about the i7-3960X compared with the i7-2600K?

Both are made for desktops, right? But the i7-3960X is a lot more expensive. I'm looking at the stats but not sure what makes it that much better (and expensive) than the 2600K?

Thanks,

 

[Vonnis]

The 3940XM is an Ivy Bridge part, with all advantages that entails (better iGPU, PCIe 3.0, lower TDP and power usage, better IMC). It's also an Extreme edition part (black stickers are more expensive than blue).
It's also a mobile part, though I'm not sure if that matters in and of itself.

As for the 3960X, it's a hexacore extreme edition chip with almost twice the L3 cache, and Intel's flagship (3970X is the only higher part outside Xeons, and that's essentially the same chip with a clock bump).

 

[sherlock]

Quote:

Originally Posted by revlimiter

Ahh OK Thanks, good to know and makes sense.

How about the i7-3960X compared with the i7-2600K?

Both are made for desktops, right? But the i7-3960X is a lot more expensive. I'm looking at the stats but not sure what makes it that much better (and expensive) than the 2600K?

Thanks,

3960X have 6 cores and 12 threads, 2600K have 4 cores and 8 threads, in heavily threaded operations 3960X can have up to 150% the performance of 2600K at the same clocks, in single thread application there performance would be about the same.

However, the 3930K also have 6 cores and 12 threads, the only difference between it and the 3960X is that 3930K is clocked lower at stock and about $500 cheaper.

 

[Rangerjr1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by revlimiter

Ahh OK Thanks, good to know and makes sense.

How about the i7-3960X compared with the i7-2600K?

Both are made for desktops, right? But the i7-3960X is a lot more expensive. I'm looking at the stats but not sure what makes it that much better (and expensive) than the 2600K?

Thanks,

They're about the same performance per HZ, but the 3960X has 6 cores and 12 threads compared to the 2600k's 4 cores and 8 threads.

 

[Rangerjr1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock

3960X have 6 cores and 12 threads, 2600K have 4 cores and 8 threads, in heavily threaded operations 3960X can have up to 150% the performance of 2600K at the same clocks.

However, the 3930K also have 6 cores and 12 threads, the only difference between it and the 3960X is that 3930K is clocked lower at stock and about $500 cheaper.

Aaah you beat me to it...

 

[aznpersuazn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock

3960X have 6 cores and 12 threads, 2600K have 4 cores and 8 threads, in heavily threaded operations 3960X can have up to150% the performance of 2600K at the same clocks.

^this! In addition, the 3960x uses a different chipset than Sandy Bridge processors.

 

[Rangerjr1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznpersuazn

^this! In addition, the 3960x uses a different chipset than Sandy Bridge processors.

Is the chipset more expensive in it self or is it more expensive because its compatible with the CPUs?

 

[sherlock]

3960X die shot looks like this


2600K die shot looks like this



2600K looks like the chip on the right, 3960X looks like the chip on the left.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rangerjr1

Is the chipset more expensive in it self or is it more expensive because its compatible with the CPUs?

We don't know the price of the Chipset, but imo LGA2011 board are more expensive than LGA 1155 boards because the socket is larger & more expensive, more Ram slot & channels are needed(most X79 board pack 8 Ram slots with quad channel support, LGA 1155 board carry no more than 4 & dual channel memory support), VRM & cooling requirement is much higher and a lot more PCIE lanes & switches are needed as SB-E have 40 Lanes from CPU compared to Sandy/Ivy's 16(20 for Xeons).

 

[aznpersuazn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock

3960X die shot looks like this

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

2600K die shot looks like this

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

2600K looks like the chip on the right, 3960X looks like the chip on the left.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

To further this, 3960X is a socket 2011, which means it uses 2011 protruding pins, where as the sandy/ivy bridges use 1155 pins, hence socket 1155.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rangerjr1

Is the chipset more expensive in it self or is it more expensive because its compatible with the CPUs?

The number of pins also affects pricing, but there are many other factors that make x79 chipset motherboards more expensive.

EDIT: I've done some more researching about mobo pricing.

Pricing actually comes down to one thing caused by two parts: more layers. The more layer needed for a mobo, the higher the cost and a X79 mobo has more layers due to the two extra memory channes and 4 extra DIMM slots and as well the extra PCIe lanes.

Added features are Quad channel DDR3 vs dual channel DDR3, 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes vs 20 PCIe 2.0 (3.0 if a Gen3 Z68) lanes and more SATA 6GB possible, I think the server boards have like 10 SAS/SATA 6GB/s.

 

[revlimiter]

What sort of applications / games currently utilize all 6 cores and 12 threads? I'm wondering if it's a worthy upgrade to my 2600K or if I should wait a bit...

Also, in simplified terms what do cores and threads do for these applications and games exactly?

Thanks

 

[ghostrider85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by revlimiter

What sort of applications / games currently utilize all 6 cores and 12 threads? I'm wondering if it's a worthy upgrade to my 2600K or if I should wait a bit...

Also, in simplified terms what do cores and threads do for these applications and games exactly?

Thanks

you can not upgrade your 2600k to 3930k or 3960x, they use different platforms, you have to buy another motherboard if you want to upgrade to those.
the direct upgrade of 2600k is the 3770k, not a big upgrade though.

if your PC is mainly for gaming, then forget about those 6 core processors, unless you just want to waste money.

 

[sherlock]

Quote:

Originally Posted by revlimiter

What sort of applications / games currently utilize all 6 cores and 12 threads? I'm wondering if it's a worthy upgrade to my 2600K or if I should wait a bit...

Also, in simplified terms what do cores and threads do for these applications and games exactly?

Thanks

Things like data compression(WinZip/RAR) and encoding ( Handbrake), Data from Tom's Hardware's 3970X review





Upgrading to 3930K/3960X would require you to sell your current mobo & 2600K though because you will need a X79 motherboard with these CPUs.