CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-860 and Intel Core i7-930 are both 45 nm Nehalem-era desktop processors with four cores and eight threads, but they target different sockets and platforms. Benchmark data shows the i7-860 holds a consistent, albeit narrow, lead across every tested workload, while the i7-930 counters with platform-level advantages in memory architecture. The performance gap between the two is small enough that other factors, such as platform capabilities, become the primary differentiator for a buyer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results show a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-860, which wins all five Cinebench tests. The largest margin appears in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where the i7-860 scores 152 against the i7-930’s 151, a delta of 0.7%. In multi-core tests, the i7-860’s advantage is slightly smaller but still present: it posts 1081 points in Cinebench R20 multi-core versus 1076 for the i7-930, a 0.5% difference, and 259 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 258, a 0.4% gap.

The pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R23 suite. The i7-860 scores 2574 in multi-core, beating the i7-930’s 2563 by 0.4%, and 363 in single-core, beating 361 by 0.6%. Across all five tests, the i7-860’s wins range from 0.4% to 0.7%, with an average benchmark score of 886 against 882 for the i7-930. This is a razor-thin margin, but it is consistent in every measurement.

Context from the nearest rivals puts these scores in perspective. The i7-860’s average score of 886 places it just 0.1% behind the AMD PRO A8-8650B and Intel Pentium G4560T, both at 887, and 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon X5550 at 888. The i7-930, with its 882 average, sits 0.1% ahead of the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U and AMD Phenom II X6 1035T, both at 881. Both processors occupy the 23rd to 24th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are firmly in the lower performance tier by modern standards, but the i7-860 edges out its rival in every direct comparison.

The data suggests that the i7-860’s higher boost clock of 3.47 GHz, compared to the i7-930’s 3.07 GHz, contributes to its slight edge in both single- and multi-threaded tests. The differences are small enough that they would be imperceptible in real-world use, but they are consistent across the entire benchmark suite.

The Verdict

Based strictly on benchmark results, the Intel Core i7-860 is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 0.4% to 0.7%, and holds a higher average benchmark score of 886 versus 882. The i7-860 also achieves a marginally better percentile ranking at 24th versus 23rd for the i7-930. For any workload measured by Cinebench, the i7-860 is the correct choice if performance is the sole criterion.

However, the i7-930 is not without its arguments. Its platform, Intel Socket 1366, supports triple-channel DDR3 memory, whereas the i7-860’s Socket 1156 platform is limited to dual-channel memory. This memory bandwidth advantage does not show up in the Cinebench scores, but it could matter for memory-intensive applications that are not represented in these benchmarks. The i7-930 also has a higher TDP of 130 watts versus 95 watts, which suggests it is designed for a more robust power delivery system, though this is not a performance benefit in the data.

For a user who must choose between these two specific CPUs, the data points to the i7-860 for raw compute performance. The i7-930’s case rests on platform features outside the measured benchmarks. Neither processor is competitive with modern hardware, both sit in the bottom quarter of all CPUs, so the choice is between a marginally faster chip on one platform or a marginally slower chip on another with a wider memory bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-860 wins in every measured benchmark category: single-core and multi-core performance across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its highest margin is in single-core R20 at 0.7%, and its lowest is in multi-core R15 and R23 at 0.4%. This makes it the better choice for any application that relies on CPU compute as measured by these tests, from rendering to general productivity.

The Intel Core i7-930 wins in no benchmark tests, but it holds a structural advantage in its memory subsystem. With triple-channel memory support versus dual-channel for the i7-860, the i7-930 platform can theoretically move more data between the CPU and RAM. This is not reflected in Cinebench scores, but it could benefit workloads that are memory-bandwidth-bound, such as certain scientific simulations or database operations. The i7-930 also has a larger die size at 263 mm² versus 296 mm² for the i7-860, indicating a slightly different physical layout, though this has no direct performance implication in the data.

For users with existing Socket 1366 motherboards, the i7-930 is the natural upgrade path. For users with Socket 1156 boards, the i7-860 is the better fit. In a vacuum, the i7-860 is the faster chip; in a platform context, the i7-930’s triple-channel memory could be decisive for specific workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 has a boost clock of 3.47 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-930 has a boost clock of 3.07 GHz. Both have a base clock of 2.80 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the i7-860 in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-860 scores 2574 against the i7-930’s 2563, a 0.4% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 1081 against 1076, a 0.5% lead.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i7-860 nor the Intel Core i7-930 supports ECC memory, as indicated by the benchmark database.

Q: What is the memory channel configuration for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, while the Intel Core i7-930 supports triple-channel DDR3 memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 has an average benchmark score of 886, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-930’s average score of 882.

Q: What are the percentile rankings of these CPUs among all processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 ranks in the 24th percentile, while the Intel Core i7-930 ranks in the 23rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Nehalem architecture, but they come from different codenames: the i7-860 is a Lynnfield part, while the i7-930 is a Bloomfield part. The manufacturing process is identical at 45 nm, and both are fabricated by Intel. The transistor counts differ slightly, with the i7-860 featuring 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die, while the i7-930 has 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die.

The cache hierarchy is the same on both chips: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both support DDR3 memory, but the memory bus width differs, dual-channel for the i7-860 and triple-channel for the i7-930. The PCIe support also varies: the i7-860 offers Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-930 offers Gen 2 without a specified lane count in the data.

Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning they are not unlocked for overclocking. They were released close together, with the i7-860 launching on September 7, 2009, and the i7-930 launching on February 27, 2010. Both are end-of-life products. The i7-860 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i7-930 has a TDP of 130 watts, reflecting the latter’s more power-hungry triple-channel memory controller and platform design.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The boost clock is the most significant performance-related difference: 3.47 GHz for the i7-860 versus 3.07 GHz for the i7-930, with both sharing a 2.80 GHz base clock. The TDP is also different, with the i7-860 rated at 95 watts and the i7-930 at 130 watts.

The socket and platform are entirely different: the i7-860 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i7-930 uses Intel Socket 1366. This dictates the memory bus, with the i7-860 supporting dual-channel DDR3 and the i7-930 supporting triple-channel DDR3. The PCIe configuration differs as well, with the i7-860 offering Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and the i7-930 offering Gen 2 without a lane count specified.

Physical characteristics also diverge: the i7-860 has 774 million transistors and a 296 mm² die size, while the i7-930 has 731 million transistors and a 263 mm² die size. The part numbers are SLBJJ for the i7-860 and SLBKP for the i7-930. The codenames differ (Lynnfield versus Bloomfield), as do the generations listed in the data. Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed. All other specifications, cores, threads, L1/L2/L3 cache sizes, memory type, ECC support, integrated graphics, market segment, and production status, are identical between the two.