Intel Core i7-980X vs Intel Core i7-975

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-980X and Intel Core i7-975 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, 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 i7-980X

Intel Core i7-975

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

CPU is newer: launch date 8 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1530 vs 1498
Around 96% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6828 vs 3489
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 628 vs 606
Around 45% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 2380
Around 52% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.652 vs 1.084
Around 36% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.512 vs 0.376
Around 5% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.942 vs 1.858
Around 40% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.262 vs 5.196

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2010 vs June 2009
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1530 vs 1498
PassMark - CPU mark	6828 vs 3489
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628 vs 606
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462 vs 2380
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.652 vs 1.084
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512 vs 0.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942 vs 1.858
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262 vs 5.196

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-975

Around 31% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 63.217 vs 48.42

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	63.217 vs 48.42

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-980X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-975

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1530

1498

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6828

3489

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

628

606

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3462

2380

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.652

1.084

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

48.42

63.217

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.512

0.376

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.942

1.858

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.262

5.196

Name	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Core i7-975
PassMark - Single thread mark	1530	1498
PassMark - CPU mark	6828	3489
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628	606
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462	2380
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.652	1.084
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	48.42	63.217
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512	0.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942	1.858
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262	5.196

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Core i7-975
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Bloomfield
Launch date	March 2010	June 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$959	$476
Place in performance rating	2501	2503
Price now	$218.99	$179.99
Processor Number	i7-980X	i7-975
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	11.82	10.04
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm2	263 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	1	1
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	1170 million	731 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.800V-1.375V
Front-side bus (FSB)		1333 MHz
Memory
Max memory channels	3	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm	42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)