CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-960 and Intel Core i5-2405S are two end-of-life desktop processors that, despite being separated by nearly two years of silicon evolution, land in the same performance tier. The data shows a striking statistical dead heat: the i7-960 averages a benchmark score of 993, while the i5-2405S sits at 991, a mere 0.2% gap. Both processors hold the 27th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in identical company. The head-to-head Cinebench results tell a consistent story of marginal victory for the newer chip, but the architectural chasm between them, 45 nm Nehalem versus 32 nm Sandy Bridge, reveals why one achieves its scores with half the threads and half the thermal budget.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark sweep is a clean shutout for the Intel Core i5-2405S, which wins all five head-to-head comparisons, though every margin is razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2405S scores 291 against the i7-960's 290, a lead of just 0.3%. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-2405S posts 1213 versus 1211, a 0.2% advantage. The single-core results are equally close: the i5-2405S edges ahead in Cinebench R20 single-core with 171 points to 170, a 0.6% delta, and in Cinebench R23 single-core with 408 to 407, another 0.2% margin. The largest multicore gap in the entire comparison is in Cinebench R23, where the i5-2405S scores 2890 against 2885, still only a 0.2% difference.

What makes these margins remarkable is the hardware disparity behind them. The i7-960 runs four cores with eight threads at a 3.20 GHz base clock and 3.47 GHz boost, drawing a 130 W TDP. The i5-2405S also has four cores but only four threads, with a lower 2.50 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost, yet it matches or slightly beats the i7-960 across every test while consuming only 65 W. The i5-2405S also wins the Geekbench tests that the i7-960 lacks entirely, scoring 1425 in Geekbench multicore and 541 in single-core. In the nearestRivals context, both processors tie the Intel Core i7-965 and AMD Phenom II X6 1065T at an average score of 993, while the i3-8130U trails the i7-960 by 0.1%. The i5-2405S's nearest rivals include the i7-960 itself, from which it trails by 0.2% on average score.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2405S wins every benchmark category where both chips have data, but the nature of those wins points to different strengths. In multicore workloads, the i5-2405S's victory is a testament to Sandy Bridge's superior instructions-per-clock; it achieves parity with the i7-960's hyper-threaded eight-thread configuration using only four physical threads. The Cinebench R15 multicore result of 291 versus 290 demonstrates that the newer architecture's efficiency completely offsets the older chip's thread-count advantage. In single-core tests, the i5-2405S again takes narrow leads, with its 171-point Cinebench R20 single-core score surpassing the i7-960's 170 by 0.6%, the largest relative margin in the entire head-to-head set.

The i7-960's only theoretical advantage lies in its thread count and higher clock speeds. With eight threads against four, and a 3.20 GHz base clock against 2.50 GHz, the older chip should win heavily threaded applications that scale beyond four cores. The data shows it does not: the i7-960's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2885 falls 0.2% short of the i5-2405S's 2890. The i7-960 also carries more cache, with 8 MB of shared L3 versus 6 MB, and supports triple-channel DDR3 memory versus the i5-2405S's dual-channel configuration, yet neither advantage translates into a benchmark win. For users running software that specifically benefits from eight threads, the i7-960 remains competitive, but it cannot convert that architectural edge into a measurable victory. The i5-2405S further extends its portfolio with integrated graphics, Intel HD 3000, which the i7-960 lacks entirely, making it the only option of the two for a build without a discrete GPU.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation: the Intel Core i5-2405S is the superior processor for essentially every workload measured. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests and adds Geekbench results that the i7-960 cannot match. The i5-2405S achieves a higher Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2890 versus 2885 while consuming exactly half the TDP (65 W versus 130 W) and running on a smaller 32 nm process node. It also offers integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes, and a dual-channel memory bus, features that make it a more flexible platform choice. The i7-960's 8 MB of L3 cache and triple-channel memory support are its only spec-sheet advantages, but these do not appear in any benchmark result.

For a user choosing between these two end-of-life parts, the i5-2405S should be the default pick. Its benchmark wins are consistent, its power draw is dramatically lower, and its platform access to Sandy Bridge features like PCIe Gen 3 outweighs the i7-960's older Nehalem design. The i7-960 remains a functional choice for anyone who specifically needs eight threads on a Socket 1366 platform, but the performance data offers no reason to prefer it. The i5-2405S is also the more modern design, released in May 2011 versus the i7-960's October 2009 debut, and it ties the i7-960's nearest rivals in average score while beating the i7-960 itself by 0.2% in that metric. In short, the newer, lower-power, lower-clock chip wins on every measurable axis.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 has an average benchmark score of 993, while the Intel Core i5-2405S scores 991, a 0.2% difference in favor of the i7-960.

Q: How does the i5-2405S beat the i7-960 in multicore tests despite having fewer threads?

A: The i5-2405S has four threads versus the i7-960's eight, but it wins Cinebench R15 multicore 291 to 290 and Cinebench R23 multicore 2890 to 2885. The Sandy Bridge architecture's higher instructions-per-clock compensates for the missing hyper-threading.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 has a TDP of 130 W, while the Intel Core i5-2405S has a TDP of 65 W, making the i5-2405S exactly half the power draw.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-960 has no integrated graphics listed in its specifications.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-2405S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the single-core Cinebench R23 scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S scores 408 in Cinebench R23 single-core, beating the Intel Core i7-960's 407 by 0.2%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct generations of Intel's desktop architecture. The Intel Core i7-960 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process node with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. It fits into the Intel Socket 1366 and supports triple-channel DDR3 memory, though it lacks ECC support and any integrated graphics. The i7-960 operates with a 130 W TDP, a 3.20 GHz base clock, and a 3.47 GHz boost clock, and it provides PCIe Gen 2 connectivity.

The Intel Core i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process node with 1,160 million transistors on a smaller 216 mm² die. It uses the Intel Socket 1155 and supports dual-channel DDR3 memory. The i5-2405S carries a 65 W TDP, a 2.50 GHz base clock, and a 3.30 GHz boost clock. It includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both processors have identical L1 cache at 64 KB per core and L2 cache at 256 KB per core, but the i7-960 has 8 MB shared L3 versus the i5-2405S's 6 MB.

The transistor counts reveal the process leap: the i5-2405S packs 58% more transistors (1,160 million versus 731 million) onto a die that is 18% smaller (216 mm² versus 263 mm²). The i7-960's cache hierarchy is more generous for the L3 tier, while the i5-2405S compensates with architectural efficiency. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, the i7-960's part number is SLBEU, and the i5-2405S's is SR0BB, so overclocking is limited. The i7-960 belongs to the Core i7 (Bloomfield) generation, while the i5-2405S is part of the Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation. Both are end-of-life desktop parts, with the i7-960 released in October 2009 and the i5-2405S in May 2011.