i7-3960X vs i7-3970X Extreme Edition

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.81
+9%
Core i7-3960X
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
5.33

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i7-3960X by a small 9% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11291182
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.42
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EECore i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency3.673.88
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)
Release date12 November 2012 (12 years ago)14 November 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$861

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X 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)
Threads1212
Base clock speedno data3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier35no data
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB15 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data435 mm2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data67 °C
Number of transistorsno data2,270 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X 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 dataFCLGA2011
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X 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 i7-3960X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channelsno data4
Maximum memory bandwidthno data51.2 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X.

PCIe version2.002.0
PCI Express lanes4040

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-3970X Extreme Edition 5.81
+9%
i7-3960X 5.33

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3970X Extreme Edition 12900
+3.5%
i7-3960X 12460

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.81 5.33
Recency 12 November 2012 14 November 2011
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 130 Watt

i7-3970X Extreme Edition has a 9% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 11 months.

i7-3960X, on the other hand, has 15.4% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3960X, 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 i7-3960X
Core i7-3960X

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4 28 votes

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3.8 75 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition or Core i7-3960X, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.