i7-9800X vs i7-970

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-970
2010
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.12
Core i7-9800X
2018
8 cores / 16 threads, 165 Watt
11.39
+176%

Core i7-9800X outperforms Core i7-970 by a whopping 176% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1400693
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.326.47
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i7
Power efficiency3.006.53
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
Release date19 July 2010 (14 years ago)19 October 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$662$589

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-9800X has 1922% better value for money than i7-970.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads1216
Base clock speed3.2 GHz3.8 GHz
Boost clock speed3.46 GHz4.5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate4.8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data38
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1 MB (per core)
L3 cache12 MB (shared)16.5 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size239 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature68 °C95 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1,170 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1366FCLGA2066
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt165 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+

Security technologies

Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-no data
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size24 GB128 GB
Max memory channels34
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s85.33 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataN/A

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanesno data44

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.

i7-970 4.12
i7-9800X 11.39
+176%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-970 6546
i7-9800X 18089
+176%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-970 497
i7-9800X 1395
+181%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-970 2287
i7-9800X 7423
+225%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.12 11.39
Recency 19 July 2010 19 October 2018
Physical cores 6 8
Threads 12 16
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 165 Watt

i7-970 has 26.9% lower power consumption.

i7-9800X, on the other hand, has a 176.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 33.3% more physical cores and 33.3% more threads, and a 128.6% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-9800X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-970 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-970 and Core i7-9800X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-970
Core i7-970
Intel Core i7-9800X
Core i7-9800X

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-970 or Core i7-9800X, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.