Intel Core i5-11260H vs Intel Core i7-5960X

Processor comparisons   26-06-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-11260H vs Intel Core i7-5960X and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, rendering, programming, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as PassMark, MATLAB, Blender, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, 7zip, Furmark, RealBench, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, Blender, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

Last Man Standing
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
Overwatch
Watch Dogs Legion
Fallout 76
DOOM: Eternal
Apex Legends
Death Stranding
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Borderlands 3
Valorant
Fortnite
Grand Theft Auto V
Cyberpunk 2077
Halo Infinite
Red Dead Redemption 2

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-5960X or Intel Core i5-11260H.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-11260H

54%

Core i7-5960X

53%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-11260H is 1% better than Core i7-5960X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-11260H

53%

Core i7-5960X

55%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Battlefield V, Control, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.0	97.0
Valorant	108.0	110.2
Cyberpunk 2077	60.5	61.7
Apex Legends	101.5	103.6
Call of Duty Warzone	81.0	82.6
Overwatch	87.4	89.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.5	76.0
DOOM Eternal	54.0	55.1
Warzone	84.2	85.9
Assassin's Creed	90.7	92.6
Valheim	89.6	91.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-11260H

143%

Core i7-5960X

26%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-11260H is more energy efficient than the Core i7-5960X as it consumes less power: 32W vs. 140W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-11260H	Intel Core i7-5960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	213	177
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1504	1360
Cinbench 20 Single-core	739	464
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2636	3423
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1895	1106
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	8344	7691

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-11260H	Intel Core i7-5960X
Single-Core	3904	1966
Multi-Core	14013	12668

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-11260H	Intel Core i7-5960X
Single-Core	1380	1095
Multi-Core	6865	8786

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-11260H	Intel Core i7-5960X
Announcement date	May 01, 2021	April 01, 2014
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA2011-v3
Core name	Tiger Lake	Haswell E
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	11	5
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	3.5 MHz
Frequency	2.6 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	6	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	0 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	5200 millions	4130 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	32 W	140 W
Memory type	Up to 3200 MT/s	DDR4 1600/1866/2133
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	68 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	20 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-5960X is 13% better than Core i5-11260H in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-5960X has 2 more core than Core i5-11260H. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11260H is better: 16
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-5960X is better: 18
However, it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i5-11260H and Intel Core i7-5960X before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-11260H - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11260H specs and review.

Intel Core i7-5960X - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i7-5960X specs and review.