Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Core i5-10500

Processor comparisons 25-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Core i5-10500 tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as AIDA64, VeraCrypt, RealBench, PCMark 10, Blender, 3DMark, Blender, MATLAB, SuperPi, 7zip, Prime95, Furmark, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-10500 or Intel Core i7-5960X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-5960X

53%

Core i5-10500

54%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-10500 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 i7-5960X

55%

Core i5-10500

54%

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.0	95.4
Valorant	110.2	108.4
Cyberpunk 2077	61.7	60.7
Apex Legends	103.6	101.9
Call of Duty Warzone	82.6	81.3
Overwatch	89.2	87.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.0	74.8
DOOM Eternal	55.1	54.2
Warzone	85.9	84.5
Assassin's Creed	92.6	91.0
Valheim	91.5	90.0

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 comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-5960X

26%

Core i5-10500

61%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-10500 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-5960X as it consumes less power: 140W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages 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 i7-5960X	Intel Core i5-10500
Cinbench 15 Single-core	177	201
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1360	1491
Cinbench 20 Single-core	464	467
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3423	3392
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1106	1082
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7691	8209

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

	Intel Core i7-5960X	Intel Core i5-10500
Single-Core	1966	2743
Multi-Core	12668	13414

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

	Intel Core i7-5960X	Intel Core i5-10500
Single-Core	1095	1196
Multi-Core	8786	7233

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i7-5960X	Intel Core i5-10500
Announcement date	April 01, 2014	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA2011-v3	FCLGA1200
Core name	Haswell E	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	5	10
Turbo Frequency	3.5 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.1 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	16	12
Bus rate	0 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4130 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	140 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4 1600/1866/2133	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	20 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
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 i5-10500 is 3% better than Core i7-5960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-5960X has 2 more core than Core i5-10500. 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 i7-5960X is better: 18
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10500 is better: 17
Although it should be understood that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i7-5960X and Intel Core i5-10500 before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

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.

• Intel Core i5-10500 specs and review.