i5-8500T vs i7-3970X Extreme Edition

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.92
+19.4%
Core i5-8500T
2018
6 cores / 6 threads, 35 Watt
4.96

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i5-8500T by a moderate 19% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11151234
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data4.81
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEIntel Core i5
Power efficiency3.6713.16
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
Release date12 November 2012 (12 years ago)2 April 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$192

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads126
Base clock speedno data2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate5 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier3521
L1 cacheno data384 KB
L2 cache1,536 KB1.5 MB
L3 cache15 MB9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataFCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T.

PCIe version2.003.0
PCI Express lanes4016

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.92 4.96
Recency 12 November 2012 2 April 2018
Threads 12 6
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 35 Watt

i7-3970X Extreme Edition has a 19.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more threads.

i5-8500T, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 5 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 328.6% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-8500T in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i5-8500T, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i5-8500T
Core i5-8500T

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