Intel Core i7 3970X 

Released November, 2012
  • 3.5 GHz
  • Hexa core
  • Unlocked
5.6 Out of 10

As ever, overclocking isn't a precise science, but the 3970X doesn't look like a big step forward.
by Tech Radar (Dec, 2012)
Problem is, Intel will sell you an eight-core Xeon chip clocked at 3.2GHz, so the penalty back then was slim to none.
by Tech Radar (Dec, 2012)

CPUBoss Review Our evaluation of the Intel Core i7 3970X among desktop CPUs (over 75W)

Performance

Benchmark performance using all cores
Core i7 3970X
9.6
Core i7 4960X
10.0
Core i7 4770K
8.5
PCMark 8 Home 3.0 Accelerated, PassMark and 1 more

Single-core Performance

Individual core benchmark performance
Core i7 3970X
7.8
Core i7 4960X
7.9
Core i7 4770K
9.0
PassMark (Single Core), Geekbench 3 Single Core and 1 more

Integrated Graphics

Integrated GPU performance for graphics
Core i7 3970X
0.0
Core i7 4960X
0.0
Core i7 4770K
6.5
Fire Strike

Integrated Graphics (OpenCL)

Integrated GPU performance for parallel computing
Core i7 3970X
0.0
Core i7 4960X
0.0
Core i7 4770K
6.7
CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 4 more

Performance per Watt

How efficiently does the processor use electricity?
Core i7 3970X
5.3
Core i7 4960X
5.7
Core i7 4770K
10.0
Fire Strike, CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 11 more

Value

Are you paying a premium for performance?
Core i7 3970X
5.0
Core i7 4960X
5.0
Core i7 4770K
6.7
Fire Strike, CompuBench 1.5 Bitcoin mining and 11 more
5.6

CPUBoss Score

Combination of all six facets
Core i7 3970X
5.6
Core i7 4960X
5.8
Core i7 4770K
9.6

Benchmarks Real world tests of the Intel Core i7 3970X

GeekBench 3 (Multi-core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 3970X
19,564
Core i7 4770K
14,184
Core i7 4960X
20,658

GeekBench 3 (Single core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 3970X
3,376
Core i7 4770K
3,689
Core i7 4960X
3,479

GeekBench 3 (AES single core) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 3970X
2,690,000 MB/s
Core i7 4770K
4,810,000 MB/s
Core i7 4960X
2,560,000 MB/s

GeekBench (32-bit) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 3970X
19,956
Core i7 4770K
14,351
Core i7 4960X
20,896

GeekBench (64-bit) Data courtesy Primate Labs

Core i7 3970X
20,836
Core i7 4770K
15,778
Core i7 4960X
23,903

GeekBench

Core i7 3970X
21,346
Core i7 4770K
18,498
Core i7 4960X
23,903

PassMark Data courtesy Passmark

Core i7 3970X
12,923
Core i7 4770K
10,016
Core i7 4960X
13,858

PassMark (Single Core)

Core i7 3970X
2,047
Core i7 4770K
2,165
Core i7 4960X
2,076

Reviews Word on the street for the Intel Core i7 3970X

7.0
read review
The inference is that the more cores you enable, the lower the clockspeed you can achieve in a given thermal and power budget.
9.6
read review

Overall
8.3 Out of 10

What People Are Saying Give it to me straight

Type of CPU

On the other, it's disappointing not to have Intel fully unleash the Sandy Bridge E die for the desktop.
by Tech Radar (Dec, 2012)

Specifications Full list of technical specs

summary

Clock speed 3.5 GHz
Turbo clock speed 4 GHz
Cores Hexa core
Socket type LGA 2011
Is unlocked Yes

features

Has a NX bit Yes
Supports trusted computing No
Has virtualization support Yes
Instruction set extensions
  1. MMX
  2. AES
  3. SSE
  4. SSE2
  5. SSE4.1
  6. SSE3
  7. Supplemental SSE3
  8. SSE4.2
  9. AVX
  10. SSE4
Supports dynamic frequency scaling Yes

integrated graphics

GPU None

bus

Architecture DMI 2.0
Number of links 1
Transfer rate 5,000 MT/s

details

Architecture x86-64
Threads 12 threads
L2 cache 2 MB
L2 cache per core 0.33 MB/core
L3 cache 15 MB
L3 cache per core 2.5 MB/core
Manufacture process 32 nm
Max CPUs 1
Clock multiplier 35
Voltage range 0.6 - 1.35V
Operating temperature Unknown - 66.8°C

overclocking

Overclock popularity 28
Overclock review score 0.2
Overclocked clock speed 4.57 GHz
Overclocked clock speed (Water) 4.44 GHz
PassMark (Overclocked) 7,133.8
Overclocked clock speed (Air) 4.57 GHz

power consumption

TDP 150W
Annual home energy cost 36.13 $/year
Annual commercial energy cost 131.4 $/year
Performance per watt 8.17 pt/W
Typical power consumption 121.88W

memory controller

Memory controller Built-in
Memory type
  1. DDR3-1600
  2. DDR3-1333
  3. DDR3-1066
  4. DDR3
Channels Quad Channel
Supports ECC No
Maximum bandwidth 51,200 MB/s
Maximum memory size 65,996.8 MB
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