Intel Core i7-10875H vs Intel Core i7-5960X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10875H boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-5960X tops out at 3.50 GHz. The mobile chip's 1.6 GHz advantage in peak frequency is a defining difference.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i7-5960X posts an average benchmark score of 3442, while the i7-10875H scores 3432. That is a 0.3% gap in favor of the desktop part, placing both at the 54th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-5960X has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i7-10875H has 16 MB. The desktop processor also has a larger die at 356 mm² versus 177.5 mm².

Q: What are the memory channel configurations?

A: The i7-5960X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-10875H uses dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s. The desktop part offers 21.4 GB/s more theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The i7-5960X has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking. The i7-10875H does not, as its multiplier is locked.

Q: How do single-core Geekbench scores compare?

A: The i7-10875H scores 1384, which is 27% higher than the i7-5960X's 1010. This is the largest single-test margin between the two in any benchmark.

The Verdict

The data delivers a clear split. The Intel Core i7-10875H wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, making it the stronger performer in every measured workload. Its biggest victories come in single-core tests, where the newer architecture and high boost clock dominate. In Geekbench single-core, the mobile chip is 27% ahead. Across all Cinebench tests, it leads by 5.5% to 5.7%. The i7-5960X, however, holds its own in multi-core Geekbench, trailing by only 0.8%.

For users choosing based on raw benchmark results, the i7-10875H is the pick. It delivers superior scores across the board while operating at a 45 W TDP, compared to the 140 W TDP of the i7-5960X. The desktop part's advantages lie in platform features: quad-channel memory, 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and an unlocked multiplier. But those features do not translate into benchmark wins.

The i7-5960X's case rests on its platform capabilities and the fact that it remains competitive in multi-threaded workloads despite being from 2014. Its average benchmark score of 3442 edges out the i7-10875H's 3432 by a hair. Yet in direct comparisons, the mobile chip wins every time. The verdict is straightforward: the i7-10875H is the better processor for performance. The i7-5960X is only preferable if the user requires its specific platform traits—quad-channel memory, more PCIe lanes, or overclocking—and accepts the performance deficit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-10875H sweeps the comparison, but the margins vary significantly by workload. In Geekbench single-core, the mobile chip scores 1384 against 1010 for the i7-5960X, a 27% advantage. This is the most lopsided result in the set and reflects the massive single-thread performance gap between a 3.50 GHz Haswell part and a 5.10 GHz Comet Lake part.

Multi-core results are closer. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-10875H scores 6511 versus 6461 for the i7-5960X, a mere 0.8% difference. The two CPUs are nearly identical here, which is remarkable given the desktop part's age and higher TDP.

Cinebench tests show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-10875H scores 1233 against 1165, a 5.5% lead. Single-core R15 shows 174 versus 164, a 5.7% edge. The R20 tests repeat the same margins: multi-core 5138 versus 4857 and single-core 725 versus 685, both 5.5% differences. R23 follows suit with 12234 versus 11565 in multi-core and 1727 versus 1632 in single-core, again 5.5%.

The consistency of the Cinebench deltas—hovering around 5.5% across all versions—suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than workload-specific quirks. The Geekbench single-core gap is the outlier, driven by the extreme boost clock difference. In multi-threaded Geekbench, the i7-5960X's eight cores and 16 threads nearly close the gap, but not quite.

The i7-5960X wins zero comparisons. Its best relative showing is in Geekbench multi-core, where it trails by only 0.8%. Its worst is Geekbench single-core, where it falls 27% behind. Every Cinebench result lands in a narrow band between 5.5% and 5.7% in favor of the i7-10875H.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification. The i7-5960X has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while the i7-10875H runs at 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks flip the advantage: the mobile chip reaches 5.10 GHz, the desktop part only 3.50 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The i7-5960X draws 140 W, while the i7-10875H is rated at 45 W. The desktop part uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, while the mobile chip uses Intel BGA 1440. The i7-5960X is a desktop-market part; the i7-10875H is mobile.

Memory support differs in channel count and bandwidth. The i7-5960X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s. The i7-10875H supports dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs: the desktop part offers 40 Gen 3 lanes, the mobile chip only 16 Gen 3 lanes.

The i7-5960X has an unlocked multiplier; the i7-10875H is locked. The desktop part has no integrated graphics, while the mobile chip includes UHD Graphics. Production status and release dates differ as well: the i7-5960X is end-of-life and released in 2014, while the i7-10875H is active and released in 2020. The i7-10875H has a launch MSRP of $450; the i7-5960X has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The i7-5960X is built on the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-E codename, fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process. The i7-10875H uses Comet Lake with the Comet Lake-H codename, on a 14 nm process. Both are Intel parts, but the process node difference is significant.

Die size and transistor counts reflect the generational gap. The i7-5960X has a 356 mm² die with 2,600 million transistors. The i7-10875H has a 177.5 mm² die, though its transistor count is not listed. The desktop chip's larger die accommodates its 20 MB L3 cache, while the mobile chip has 16 MB.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, with identical L1 and L2 cache configurations: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2. Neither supports ECC memory. The i7-5960X is part of the Core i7 Extreme (Haswell-E) generation, while the i7-10875H belongs to the Core i7 (Comet Lake-H) generation.

The i7-5960X uses a quad-channel memory bus, while the i7-10875H uses dual-channel. This is a fundamental platform difference: the desktop part is designed for high-bandwidth workloads, while the mobile part prioritizes power efficiency. The 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes on the i7-5960X versus 16 on the i7-10875H further underscores the desktop versus mobile design philosophy.

The i7-10875H includes integrated UHD Graphics, which the i7-5960X lacks. This makes the mobile chip self-sufficient for display output, while the desktop part requires a discrete GPU. The i7-5960X's unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, a feature absent from the locked i7-10875H. These architectural choices explain the benchmark results: the newer 14 nm Comet Lake design extracts higher single-thread performance from a lower TDP, while the older 22 nm Haswell-E part leverages its larger cache and quad-channel memory to stay competitive in multi-threaded tasks.