CPU Comparison

Intel Core i7-940 vs Intel Core i7-960

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-940 launched alongside the i7-920 in November 2008 as the step-up model in the inaugural Bloomfield lineup. Operating at a base clock of 2.93GHz with a turbo boost of 3.2GHz, it offered slightly higher out-of-the-box performance than the 920. It featured the same four-core, eight-thread configuration and 8MB of L3 cache. While it was a capable processor, it occupied an awkward middle ground. Its price was significantly higher than the 920, yet it didn't offer the unlocked multiplier of the Extreme Edition 965. This positioning made it a relatively rare sight in enthusiast builds, as most users either opted for the value of the 920 or waited for later refreshes. Nevertheless, it remains a part of the foundational Nehalem architecture that reintroduced Hyper-Threading and integrated memory controllers, setting the stage for Intel's dominance in the high-end desktop market for the next decade.