Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i7-3930K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i7-3930K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
  • Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
  • Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1849 vs 1746
  • Around 4% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8516 vs 8207
  • Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 792 vs 787
  • Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4715 vs 4610
  • 3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.513 vs 6.321
  • Around 30% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.954 vs 0.735
  • Around 44% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 4.518 vs 3.141
  • Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.433 vs 7.34
Specifications (specs)
Launch date November 2012 vs November 2011
Maximum frequency 4.00 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
L3 cache 15360 KB (shared) vs 12288 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size 64.45 GB vs 64.23 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1849 vs 1746
PassMark - CPU mark 8516 vs 8207
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 792 vs 787
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4715 vs 4610
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 21.513 vs 6.321
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.954 vs 0.735
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 4.518 vs 3.141
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.433 vs 7.34

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3930K

  • Around 15% lower typical power consumption: 130 Watt vs 150 Watt
  • 2.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 65.02 vs 24.951
Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 130 Watt vs 150 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 65.02 vs 24.951

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3970X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3930K

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1849
1746
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
8516
8207
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
792
787
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
4715
4610
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
21.513
6.321
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
24.951
65.02
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.954
0.735
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.518
3.141
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
7.433
7.34
Name Intel Core i7-3970X Intel Core i7-3930K
PassMark - Single thread mark 1849 1746
PassMark - CPU mark 8516 8207
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 792 787
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 4715 4610
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0 5049
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 21.513 6.321
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 24.951 65.02
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.954 0.735
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 4.518 3.141
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 7.433 7.34

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i7-3970X Intel Core i7-3930K

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge E Sandy Bridge E
Launch date November 2012 November 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $593 $611
Place in performance rating 2037 2054
Price now $909.99 $397.99
Processor Number i7-3970X i7-3930K
Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 4.10 8.88
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.50 GHz 3.20 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI2 5 GT/s DMI2
Die size 435 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 15360 KB (shared) 12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 70 °C 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 66.8°C 66.8°C
Maximum frequency 4.00 GHz 3.80 GHz
Number of cores 6 6
Number of threads 12 12
Transistor count 2270 million 2270 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range 0.6V-1.35V 0.600-1.350V

Memory

Max memory channels 4 4
Maximum memory bandwidth 51.2 GB/s 51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size 64.45 GB 64.23 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333/1600 DDR3 1066/1333/1600

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 52.5mm x 45.0mm 52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA2011 FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 150 Watt 130 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 40 40
PCI Express revision 2.0 2.0

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
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)