i7-12700H vs i7-3970X Extreme Edition

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.81
Core i7-12700H
2022
14 cores / 20 threads, 45 Watt
16.45
+183%

Core i7-12700H outperforms Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition by a whopping 183% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1117395
Place by popularitynot in top-10072
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7EEAlder Lake-S
Power efficiency3.6734.60
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake-H (2022)
Release date12 November 2012 (12 years ago)January 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H 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)14 (Tetradeca-Core)
Threads1220
Base clock speedno data2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz4.7 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
Multiplier35no data
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB24 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data217 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H 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
Socketno dataFCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H. 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++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H are enumerated here.

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 i7-12700H. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channelsno data2

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.4 GHz
Execution Unitsno data96

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H.

PCIe version2.004.0
PCI Express lanes4020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.81 16.45
Physical cores 6 14
Threads 12 20
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 45 Watt

i7-12700H has a 183.1% higher aggregate performance score, 133.3% more physical cores and 66.7% more threads, and 233.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-12700H is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is a desktop processor while Core i7-12700H is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H, 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 i7-12700H
Core i7-12700H

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Community ratings

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