CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-7640X X-series vs Intel Core i7-5930K
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-7640X is a quad-core, four-thread desktop processor on the LGA2066 platform with base and boost clocks of 4.0 GHz and 4.2 GHz, respectively, dual-channel DDR4-2666 memory, and 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration; CPU-bound inference only.
- Lacks AVX-512; limited to SSE4.1/4.2 and AVX2 instruction sets.
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware.
- Suitable only for light CPU-based inference workloads.
Content Creation
Gaming
- High clocks help in CPU-bound scenarios, but modern games increasingly benefit from more cores/threads.
- Requires a discrete GPU; no integrated graphics.
- Performance comparable to contemporary mainstream Kaby Lake i5s when GPU-bound.
- Multi-GPU support was a highlight in its time, but multi-GPU gaming has declined.
- Capable of 1080p/1440p with a strong GPU, though new titles may bottleneck.
- Boost to 3.7 GHz is modest compared with today’s high-clocked desktop CPUs.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High base and boost clock speeds
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- Supports Intel Optane Memory
- VT-x and VT-d virtualization support
- DDR4-2666 dual-channel memory support
Cons
- No integrated graphics requires a discrete GPU
- No Hyper-Threading; only four threads
- Only dual-channel memory on a HEDT platform
- Only 16 CPU PCIe 3.0 lanes
- Discontinued platform with limited upgrade options
Pros
- 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes directly from the CPU
- Quad-channel DDR4 memory support
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- Solid multi-threaded performance for its era
- Proven X99 platform with broad motherboard options
Cons
- No integrated graphics; a discrete GPU is required
- High 140 W TDP with older 22 nm process
- Lower single-thread performance than modern CPUs
- Platform has no upgrade path beyond Broadwell-E
- Memory support capped at DDR4-2133 officially
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-7640X X-series
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 5 1500XRival
Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-7600KRival
Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-7700KRival
Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-7740XRival
HEDT
- Intel Core i5-8400Alt
Six-core mainstream Coffee Lake with better multi-threaded performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Six cores, 12 threads on AM4 with superior efficiency and upgrade path.
- Intel Core i5-9600KAlt
Later-generation six-core with higher clocks and improved platform longevity.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Zen 2 six-core with much higher IPC and efficiency on AM4.
- Intel Core i5-10600KAlt
Six-core, 12-thread Comet Lake on modern platform with DDR4 and better connectivity.
Intel Core i7-5930K
- AMD Ryzen 9 3950XRival
HEDT/High-End Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800XRival
Mainstream Desktop
- RivalCompare head-to-head
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950XRival
HEDT/Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-6850KRival
HEDT (same platform successor)
Cheaper entry to X99 with 6 cores but fewer PCIe lanes.
Compare head-to-head8-core option on the same platform if you need more cores and lanes.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i9-9900KAlt
Much faster gaming and general performance on a more modern mainstream platform.
- AMD Ryzen 9 5950XAlt
16 cores, far superior performance and efficiency on AM4.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700XAlt
Strong single-thread performance and modern platform features on AM5.
Our Verdict on Each
A capable but ill-positioned quad-core for the X299 HEDT platform, offering strong clock speeds yet lacking Hyper-Threading, integrated graphics, and the multi-threaded punch of contemporaries; mainly relevant today for specific upgrades or used-market builds.
Best for: Upgrading an existing X299 system on a tight budget or acquiring used parts at low cost
Read the full reviewThe i7-5930K was a sensible mid-tier HEDT pick in 2014, offering nearly the same multi-GPU and multi-threaded capabilities as the higher-priced model while costing less. Today, it remains viable for specific workloads that need many PCIe lanes and memory bandwidth, but efficiency and single-thread speeds lag far behind modern chips.
Best for: A very low-cost used HEDT build that needs 40 PCIe lanes and quad-channel DDR4, especially for multi-GPU or many NVMe drives.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-7640X X-series or Intel Core i7-5930K?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-5930K comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-7640X X-series or Intel Core i7-5930K?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-7640X X-series leads with a gaming performance score of 72/100 among Intel Core i5-7640X X-series and Intel Core i7-5930K.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-7640X X-series has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-7640X X-series (112 W), Intel Core i7-5930K (140 W).
Do Intel Core i5-7640X X-series and Intel Core i7-5930K use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-7640X X-series : FCLGA2066, Intel Core i7-5930K: LGA2011-v3 (FCLGA2011)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-5930K has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-7640X X-series (4 cores), Intel Core i7-5930K (6 cores).