Core i7-2960XM

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i7-2960XM

Sysbuilds Alpha Stage!

Please take all results with a big grain of salt. Sysbuilds is in alpha stage at the moment which can lead to wrong data, strange counting errors, silly results and more. This site is under active development.

Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i7-2960XM based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,790 Rank: 1033
Rank Name Score Visual
1029 Core i3-3250 4,794
+0.1%
1030 Core i5-4300M 4,792
+0%
1031 Xeon E3-1280 v2 4,792
+0%
1032 Xeon Silver 4210 4,791
+0%
1033 Core i7-2960XM 4,790
1034 Xeon E5-2608L v4 4,787
-0.1%
1035 Celeron G4900 4,787
-0.1%
1036 Core i5-7200U 4,784
-0.1%
1037 Xeon E3-1220 V2 4,782
-0.2%
1038 Xeon X5667 4,779
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i7-2960XM based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,735 Rank: 928
Rank Name Score Visual
924 Core i7-2600 4,736
+0%
925 Ryzen Embedded V1605B 4,735
+0%
926 Pentium Gold G5500 4,735
+0%
927 Core i7-2600S 4,735
+0%
928 Core i7-2960XM 4,735
929 Pentium Gold G4620 4,733
+-0%
930 Intel Core i3-330UM 4,733
+-0%
931 Core i7-3940XM 4,730
-0.1%
932 Core i5-1030NG7 4,730
-0.1%
933 Core i5-8265U 4,729
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i7-2960XM based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,827 Rank: 1056
Rank Name Score Visual
1052 Core i3-3240 4,835
+0.2%
1053 Xeon E5-2628L v4 4,833
+0.1%
1054 Xeon E5-2697 v2 4,830
+0.1%
1055 Core i7-3635QM 4,828
+0%
1056 Core i7-2960XM 4,827
1057 Core i7-3615QM 4,825
+-0%
1058 Core i5-7440HQ 4,823
-0.1%
1059 Xeon Silver 4108 4,822
-0.1%
1060 Core i5-5250U 4,822
-0.1%
1061 Core i3-3225 4,821
-0.1%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i7-2960XM based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,614 Rank: 936
Rank Name Score Visual
932 Core i7-880 4,615
+0%
933 Core i7-960 4,615
+0%
934 Core i3-1115G4E 4,615
+0%
935 Core i5-2450P 4,614
+0%
936 Core i7-2960XM 4,614
937 Core i7-3612QM 4,614
+0%
938 Core i5-6500T 4,613
+-0%
939 Xeon W3570 4,613
+-0%
940 Xeon X5570 4,613
+-0%
941 Xeon X3470 4,612
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i7-2960XM based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,616 Rank: 864
Rank Name Score Visual
860 Core i5-4670K 4,618
+0%
861 Core i5-8265U 4,618
+0%
862 Phenom II X6 1090T 4,618
+0%
863 Core i5-7600T 4,616
+0%
864 Core i7-2960XM 4,616
865 Xeon Bronze 3106 4,615
+-0%
866 Core i5-4670 4,615
+-0%
867 Core i7-4702MQ 4,615
+-0%
868 Xeon E3-1225 v5 4,614
+-0%
869 Core i7-8550U 4,614
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i7-2960XM based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,607 Rank: 949
Rank Name Score Visual
945 Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 4,607
+0%
946 Core i7-6650U 4,607
+0%
947 Core i7-6567U 4,607
+0%
948 Core i3-7100 4,607
+0%
949 Core i7-2960XM 4,607
950 Xeon W3580 4,607
+0%
951 Core i7-2860QM 4,606
+-0%
952 Core i5-3475S 4,605
+-0%
953 Core i3-8121U 4,604
-0.1%
954 Xeon E5645 4,604
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Core i7-2960XM Details

As of March 2026, the Intel Core i7-2960XM remains a notable entry in the history of high-performance mobile processors, representing the pinnacle of Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture for enthusiast laptops when it launched in September 2011. Though nearly 15 years old, its design and performance continue to reflect the engineering priorities of its era—combining raw computational power with integrated graphics for a premium mobile experience. The processor was positioned as a flagship for Intel's Core i7 Extreme lineup, targeting power users and professionals who demanded maximum performance in a portable form factor.

Built on a 32 nm process and featuring a 4-core, 8-thread configuration enabled by Hyper-Threading, the i7-2960XM operates at a base frequency of 2.7 GHz with a turbo boost up to 3.7 GHz, depending on workload and thermal conditions. It is manufactured using 1.16 billion transistors and integrates Intel's HD Graphics 3000, which supports up to two displays and operates at a base frequency of 650 MHz, with a burst frequency of 1.3 GHz. The chip is packaged in a rPGA socket and requires a QM67 or HM67 chipset, operating on a dual-channel DDR3 memory interface with support for speeds up to 1600 MT/s and a maximum capacity of 32 GB.

The processor's L3 cache measures 7.629 MiB, with 0.061 MiB of L1 and 0.244 MiB of L2 cache, contributing to its balanced data access performance. With a TDP of 55 W and a maximum junction temperature of 100°C, the i7-2960XM strikes a middle ground between performance and power efficiency for its time. Its unlocked multiplier allows for straightforward overclocking, a feature that appealed to overclocking enthusiasts despite the challenges of cooling in a mobile chassis.

In benchmark evaluations, the i7-2960XM achieves an overall score of 4790, ranking #1033 out of 2060 CPUs, with a single-core score of 4827 (#1056) and a multicore score of 4735 (#925). While these results place it well below modern processors, they reflect its competitive standing among mid-to-late 2010s mobile CPUs. It outperforms several contemporary low-end and mid-range models, such as the Core i3-6100U and Pentium Gold G4620, but trails behind more powerful mobile and desktop chips like the Core i7-3635QM and Xeon E5-2697 v2.

Despite its age, the i7-2960XM remains relevant for legacy system support and specific use cases such as retro computing, software development, or embedded applications where its combination of high single-threaded performance and integrated graphics is still functional. Its support for advanced features like AVX, AES-NI, and Intel VT-x ensures compatibility with a broad range of software, including virtualization environments. However, for users seeking modern performance or power efficiency, the i7-2960XM is no longer competitive with current-generation processors, which deliver vastly superior performance and thermal efficiency.
Frequently Compared

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 1 view

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 1 view

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4214 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4116T 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4114 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4112 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4110 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4109T 1 view

Intel Core i7-7600U 1 view

Intel Core i7-2960XM

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i7-2960XM
Model Number: i7-2960XM
Cores: 4
Threads: 8
Base Frequency: 2700 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 27x (unlocked)
Core Name: Sandy Bridge
Socket: FCPGA988
Package: rPGA
Target Segment: Mobile
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 55 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 7.629 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 2.0
PCIe Lanes: 1
PCIe Configuration: 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 3000
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1300 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Die Area: 216 mm²
Manufacturer: Intel
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX AVX2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX Flex Memory FMA
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