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Intel Core i7-2960XM

Intel 2960XM

The Intel Core i7-2960XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops in Q3-2011 and successor to the Core i7-2920XM. Due to the Extreme Edition branding, the CPU should be easy to overclock (unlocked multiplicator). It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 8 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the previous Clarksdale quad-cores, the i7-2960XM is now manufactured in 32nm, offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the slower clocked 2860QM, the 2960XM is specified with a higher TDP.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 265Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo Boost and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. Furthermore, the integrated memory controller was improved and supports up to 8 GB DDR3-1333.

The Core i7-2960XM offers an integrated graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 3000) which proved to be clearly faster than the old Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs and on a level with entry level dedicated graphics cards like the GeForce 310M. The HD Graphics 3000 also supports Turbo Boost and clocks between 650 MHz and 1300 MHz in the i7-2920XM (therefore it should be similar or faster in the 2960XM). As the graphics card shares the fast last level cache, the processor is a bit slower with activated GPU.

Due to the high Turbo Boost, large L3 Cache, and Hyperthreading, the performance of the Core i7-2960XM is only slightly lower than the desktop Core i7-2600K. In 2011 it is the fastest mobile processors for laptops. Therefore, the performance should be sufficient for even the most demanding tasks like HD video editing or demanding 3D games.

The high TDP rating of the 2960XM enables the usage of the quad core only in large and heavy laptops (usually 15" and up). Compared to the previous generation (Clarkdale, e.g. Core i7-940XM) of quad-cores, however, the TDP improved, as the integrated GPU is now included.

SeriesIntel Core i7
CodenameSandy Bridge

Series: Core i7 Sandy Bridge

Intel Core i7-2960XM « 2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM compare2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM compare2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM compare2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM compare2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM compare2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M compare2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M compare2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M compare2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M compare2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M compare1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M compare1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M compare1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M compare1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock Rate2700 - 3700 MHz
Level 1 Cache256 KB
Level 2 Cache1 MB
Level 3 Cache8 MB
Number of Cores / Threads4 / 8
Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)55 Watt
Transistor Count995 Million
Manufacturing Technology32 nm
Die Size216 mm2
Max. Temperature100 °C
SocketFCPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000, DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
GPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
64 Bit64 Bit support
Architecturex86
Starting Price$1096 U.S.
Announcement Date09/03/2011
Product Link (external)ark.intel.com

Benchmarks

SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
120900 MIPS (57%)
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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#9 return log +0.025s ... 0.348s

Reviews for the Intel Core i7-2960XM processor

 

Review Intel Sandy Bridge (Core i7) Update

A fresh breeze. Intel extends its successful Sandy Bridge Generation by a few new models. We've snatched ourselves the refreshed Core i7 processors and put them...
Intel Core i7-2960XM | AMD Radeon HD 6990M | 17.30" | 3.8 kg

Eurocom Leopard 2.0: AMD Radeon HD 6990M, 18.40", 5.6 kg
  External Review » Eurocom Leopard 2.0

One M56-2N: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » One M56-2N

Alienware M18x, i7-2960XM, GTX 580M SLI: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI, 18.40", 5.4 kg
  External Review » Alienware M18x, i7-2960XM, GTX 580M SLI

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» Mobile CPU Comparison
Comparison of all mobile CPU series

» Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist
Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)

Other CPUs of the series Core i7

» Intel Core i7-8809G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8709G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8706G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8705G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4940MX
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6920HQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5950HQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4930MX
   4x 3 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6970HQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6870HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4980HQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4910MQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5850HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3940XM
   4x 3 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5700HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5750HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6820HK
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6820HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6770HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4900MQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4960HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6700HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4810MQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4870HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8665U
   4x 1.9 GHz - 4.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3920XM
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4800MQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4950HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4860HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4720HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3840QM
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4850HQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4710HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4710MQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8565U
   4x 1.8 GHz - 4.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4770HQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3820QM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3740QM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3720QM
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4700HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4700MQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4760HQ
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4722HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2960XM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4712HQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4712MQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4750HQ
   4x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3635QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3630QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4702HQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4702MQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2860QM
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2920XM
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3615QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3610QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3632QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2760QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2820QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3612QM
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2720QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2675QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2670QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6567U
   2x 3.3 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2635QM
   4x 2 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2630QM
   4x 2 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5557U
   2x 3.1 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4610M
   2x 3 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-940XM
   4x 2.13 GHz - 3.33 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4600M
   2x 2.9 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4578U
   2x 3 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-920XM
   4x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3540M
   2x 3 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4558U
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6600U
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6650U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6560U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3520M
   2x 2.9 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6500U
   2x 2.5 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5600U
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5650U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2640M
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5500U
   2x 2.4 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5550U
   2x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-840QM
   4x 1.86 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2620M
   2x 2.7 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4600U
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4650U
   2x 1.7 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3687U
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4510U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640M
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.46 GHz
» Intel Core i7-820QM
   4x 1.73 GHz - 3.06 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3667U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4500U
   2x 1.8 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4550U
   2x 1.5 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-740QM
   4x 1.73 GHz - 2.93 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3537U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3517U
   2x 1.9 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620M
   2x 2.66 GHz - 3.33 GHz
» Intel Core i7-720QM
   4x 1.6 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2649M
   2x 2.3 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4610Y
   2x 1.7 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2629M
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2677M
   2x 1.8 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-660LM
   2x 2.27 GHz - 3.07 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2637M
   2x 1.7 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2657M
   2x 1.6 GHz - 2.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3689Y
   2x 1.5 GHz - 2.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2617M
   2x 1.5 GHz - 2.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640LM
   2x 2.13 GHz - 2.93 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620LM
   2x 2 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-680UM
   2x 1.47 GHz - 2.53 GHz
» Intel Core i7-660UM
   2x 1.33 GHz - 2.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640UM
   2x 1.2 GHz - 2.27 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620UM
   2x 1.06 GHz - 2.13 GHz

Surrounding CPUs

+ AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U
   4x 2.7 GHz - 4.1 GHz
+ AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U
   4x 2.6 GHz - 4 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-8265U
   4x 1.6 GHz - 3.9 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-1140G7
   4x 1.8 GHz - 4.2 GHz
+ AMD Ryzen 7 2800H
   4x 3.3 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2960XM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.7 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.8 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.8 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300U
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.8 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.7 GHz
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Notebook Processors > Intel Core i7 > Intel Core i7 2960XM Notebook Processor
Klaus Hinum, 2011-08-15 (Update: 2012-05-26)