Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i7-3960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i7-3960X 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 i7-3960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 3% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.90 GHz
Around 1% higher maximum memory size: 64.45 GB vs 64 GB
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1857 vs 1788
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 8595 vs 8425
3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.513 vs 6.358
Around 31% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.954 vs 0.727
Around 55% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 4.518 vs 2.924

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2012 vs November 2011
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.90 GHz
Maximum memory size	64.45 GB vs 64 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1857 vs 1788
PassMark - CPU mark	8595 vs 8425
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.513 vs 6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.954 vs 0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	4.518 vs 2.924

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3960X

Around 15% lower typical power consumption: 130 Watt vs 150 Watt
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 821 vs 792
Around 5% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4933 vs 4715
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 27.376 vs 24.951
Around 5% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.797 vs 7.433

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt vs 150 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	821 vs 792
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4933 vs 4715
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	27.376 vs 24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.797 vs 7.433

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3970X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1857

1788

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

8595

8425

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

792

821

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4715

4933

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

21.513

6.358

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

24.951

27.376

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.954

0.727

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.518

2.924

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.433

7.797

Name	Intel Core i7-3970X	Intel Core i7-3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1857	1788
PassMark - CPU mark	8595	8425
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	792	821
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4715	4933
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	5484
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.513	6.358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.951	27.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.954	0.727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	4.518	2.924
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.433	7.797

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3970X	Intel Core i7-3960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge E	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	November 2012	November 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$593	$861
Place in performance rating	2051	2068
Price now	$909.99	$799.99
Processor Number	i7-3970X	i7-3960X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.10	4.64
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.50 GHz	3.30 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)	15360 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	3.90 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	0.6V-1.35V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	64.45 GB	64 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)