i7-12700H vs i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Aggregate performance score
i7-12700H outperforms i7-3970X Extreme Edition by a whopping 184% 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 performance ranking | 1080 | 373 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | 79 |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | Intel Core i7EE | Alder Lake-S |
| Architecture codename | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Alder Lake-H (2022) |
| Release date | 12 November 2012 (11 years ago) | 4 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 cores | 6 (Hexa-Core) | 14 (Tetradeca-Core) |
| Threads | 12 | 20 |
| Base clock speed | no data | 2.3 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 3.5 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Bus type | DMI 2.0 | no data |
| Bus rate | 5 GT/s | no data |
| Multiplier | 35 | no data |
| L1 cache | no data | 1.2 MB |
| L2 cache | 1,536 KB | 11.5 MB |
| L3 cache | 15 MB | 24 MB |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Die size | no data | 217 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | no data | 100 °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 configuration | 1 (Uniprocessor) | 1 |
| Socket | no data | FCBGA1744 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 150 Watt | 45 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 extensions | no data | Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2 |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| AVX | + | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Speed Shift | no data | + |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | no data | + |
| TSX | - | + |
| Thermal Monitoring | - | + |
| Flex Memory Access | no data | + |
| Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | no data | + |
| Status | no data | Launched |
| 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.
| TXT | no data | + |
| EDB | no data | + |
| Secure Key | no data | + |
| OS Guard | no data | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H are enumerated here.
| VT-d | no data | + |
| VT-x | no data | + |
| EPT | no 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 types | no data | DDR4, DDR5 |
| Maximum memory size | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Max memory channels | no data | 2 |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | no data | Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible |
| Quick Sync Video | - | + |
| Graphics max frequency | no data | 1.4 GHz |
| Execution Units | no data | 96 |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | no data | 4 |
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 1.4 | no data | 4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz |
| Max resolution over eDP | no data | 4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz |
| Max resolution over DisplayPort | no data | 7680 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.
| DirectX | no data | 12.1 |
| OpenGL | no data | 4.6 |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-12700H.
| PCIe version | 2.00 | 4.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 40 | 20 |
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 5.97 | 16.93 |
| Recency | 12 November 2012 | 4 January 2022 |
| Physical cores | 6 | 14 |
| Threads | 12 | 20 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 150 Watt | 45 Watt |
i7-12700H has a 183.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 years, 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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