Intel Core i7 3960X Linux
First tests of the Intel Core i7 3960X Sandy Bridge Extreme Edition processor under Linux. Using an Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64-bit snapshot with the Linux 3.2 kernel. More tests are on the way on Phoronix.com by Michael Larabel. Thanks to Intel Corp for sending out the Core i7 3960X, the Intel X79 motherboard, and the Intel water cooling kit for Sandy-E.


Intel Core i7 3960X: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7-3960X @ 3.30GHz (12 Cores), Motherboard: Intel DX79SI, Chipset: Intel Sandy DMI2, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6900 2048MB (800/1250MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Monitor: DELL P2210H, Network: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Connection

	OS: Ubuntu 12.04, Kernel: 3.2.0-3-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 4.24.0, Display Server: X Server 1.10.4, Display Driver: fglrx 8.91.4 Catalyst 11.11, OpenGL: 4.1.11251, Compiler: GCC 4.6, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

Intel Quad Core Q6600 on Asus P5E VM-HDMI: 

	Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.39GHz (4 Cores), Motherboard: ASUS P5E-VM HDMI, Chipset: Intel 82G35 + ICH9R, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 32GB A-DATA SSD + 500GB Seagate ST3500320AS + 500GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AADS-0, Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4800 512MB (630/1002MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC883, Monitor: L226WT, Network: Atheros L1 Gigabit

	OS: Ubuntu 10.10, Kernel: 2.6.32-36-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME 2.30.2, Display Server: X Server 1.7.6, Display Driver: fglrx 8.72.11, Compiler: GCC 4.4.3, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1680x1050


Smallpt 1.0
Global Illumination Renderer; 100 Samples
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Intel Core i7 3960X ....................... 67  |========
Intel Quad Core Q6600 on Asus P5E VM-HDMI . 262 |==============================


C-Ray 1.1
Total Time
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Intel Core i7 3960X ....................... 36.23  |=========
Intel Quad Core Q6600 on Asus P5E VM-HDMI . 107.72 |===========================


Timed Linux Kernel Compilation 3.1
Time To Compile
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Intel Core i7 3960X ....................... 58.76  |========
Intel Quad Core Q6600 on Asus P5E VM-HDMI . 210.46 |===========================