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).

Intel Core i7-3970X

Intel Core i7-3930K

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: 1850 vs 1747
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8541 vs 8205
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	1850 vs 1747
PassMark - CPU mark	8541 vs 8205
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

1850

1747

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8541

8205

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	1850	1747
PassMark - CPU mark	8541	8205
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	2036	2053
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)