Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Intel Core i7-3970X

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 and Intel Core i7-3970X 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2

Intel Core i7-3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
6 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 6
12 more threads: 24 vs 12
Around 29% higher maximum core temperature: 86°C vs 66.8°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
11.9x more maximum memory size: 768 GB vs 64.45 GB
Around 15% lower typical power consumption: 130 Watt vs 150 Watt
2.7x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 22852 vs 8595
Around 47% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 6947 vs 4715
3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 75.574 vs 24.951
Around 21% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.157 vs 0.954
Around 20% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.429 vs 4.518
Around 99% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 14.769 vs 7.433

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	10 September 2013 vs November 2012
Number of cores	12 vs 6
Number of threads	24 vs 12
Maximum core temperature	86°C vs 66.8°C
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	768 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	30 MB vs 15360 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	768 GB vs 64.45 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt vs 150 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	22852 vs 8595
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	6947 vs 4715
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	75.574 vs 24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.157 vs 0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.429 vs 4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	14.769 vs 7.433

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3970X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 14% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1857 vs 1709
Around 21% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 792 vs 654
Around 95% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 21.513 vs 11.052

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1857 vs 1709
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	792 vs 654
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	21.513 vs 11.052

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3970X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1709

1857

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

22852

8595

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

654

792

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

6947

4715

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

11.052

21.513

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

75.574

24.951

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.157

0.954

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.429

4.518

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

14.769

7.433

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2	Intel Core i7-3970X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1709	1857
PassMark - CPU mark	22852	8595
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	654	792
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	6947	4715
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	11.052	21.513
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	75.574	24.951
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.157	0.954
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.429	4.518
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	14.769	7.433
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2	Intel Core i7-3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge EP	Sandy Bridge E
Launch date	10 September 2013	November 2012
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,723	$593
Place in performance rating	1743	2051
Price now	$2,235.02	$909.99
Processor Number	E5-2697V2	i7-3970X
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 v2 Family	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	2.30	4.10
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.70 GHz	3.50 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s QPI	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	160 mm	435 mm
Front-side bus (FSB)	8GT / s
L1 cache	768 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	30 MB	15360 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	86°C	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz	4.00 GHz
Number of cores	12	6
Number of QPI Links	2
Number of threads	24	12
Transistor count	1400 million	2270 million
VID voltage range	0.65–1.30V	0.6V-1.35V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		70 °C
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	59.7 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	768 GB	64.45 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600/1866	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 51mm	52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	150 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	40
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	x4, x8, x16
Scalability	2S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	46-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Smart Response technology
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)