Core i7-3970X vs Core i5-8500B

Primary details

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

Place in performance ranking	1061	1083
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	9.65	1.53
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	no data
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)
Release date	3 April 2018 (6 years ago)	1 November 2012 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$192	$593
Current price	$172 (0.9x MSRP)	$266 (0.4x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-8500B has 531% better value for money than i7-3970X.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-8500B and Core i7-3970X 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 cores	6 (Hexa-Core)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	6	12
Base clock speed	3 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.1 GHz	4 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	15 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	154 mm2	435 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	67 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	70 °C
Number of transistors	no data	2,270 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-8500B and Core i7-3970X 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 configuration	1	1
Socket	FCBGA1440	FCLGA2011
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	150 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-8500B and Core i7-3970X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	+	no data
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	+	no data
Smart Response	no data	+
Demand Based Switching	no data	-
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

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

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

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

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

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

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR3
Maximum memory size	64 GB	64.45 GB
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	42.671 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 630	no data
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-8500B and Core i7-3970X integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

no data

Graphics image quality

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

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@30Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

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

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-8500B and Core i7-3970X.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	40

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

Core i5-8500B outperforms Core i7-3970X by 5% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	5.79	5.52
Recency	3 April 2018	1 November 2012
Threads	6	12
Cost	$192	$593
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	150 Watt

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

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