Intel Core i7-3525M vs Intel Core i7-3970X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3525M and Intel Core i7-3970X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Memory, Peripherals. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i7-3525M

Intel Core i7-3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3525M

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
4.3x lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 150 Watt

Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt vs 150 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
Around 38% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.8x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 4096 KB (shared)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3525M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3970X

Name	Intel Core i7-3525M	Intel Core i7-3970X
PassMark - Single thread mark		1857
PassMark - CPU mark		8595
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		792
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		4715
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		21.513
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		7.433

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3525M	Intel Core i7-3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	November 2012	November 2012
Place in performance rating	not rated	2051
Vertical segment	Laptop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$593
Price now		$909.99
Processor Number		i7-3970X
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		4.10
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	160 mm	435 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared)	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	2.9 GHz	4.00 GHz
Number of cores	2	6
Transistor count	1480 million	2270 million
Base frequency		3.50 GHz
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		70 °C
Maximum core temperature		66.8°C
Number of threads		12
Unlocked
VID voltage range		0.6V-1.35V
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	Intel BGA1023	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	150 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		52.5mm x 45.0mm
Security & Reliability
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Advanced Technologies
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Memory
Max memory channels		4
Maximum memory bandwidth		51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size		64.45 GB
Supported memory types		DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
PCI Express revision		2.0