i7-980X vs i7-3970X Extreme Edition

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.81
+35.4%
Core i7-980X
2010
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.29

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition outperforms Core i7-980X by a substantial 35% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11151360
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.21
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEno data
Power efficiency3.673.12
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Gulftown (2010−2011)
Release date12 November 2012 (12 years ago)16 March 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$959

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X 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 data3.33 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate5 GT/s6.4 GT/s
Multiplier35no data
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data239 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data68 °C
Number of transistorsno data1,170 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X 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 dataFCLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.2
AES-NI++
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technologyno data1.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
PAEno data36 Bit

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X are enumerated here.

VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB24 GB
Max memory channelsno data3
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X.

PCIe version2.002.0
PCI Express lanes40no data

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
+35.4%
i7-980X 4.29

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3970X Extreme Edition 12900
+62.7%
i7-980X 7930

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.81 4.29
Recency 12 November 2012 16 March 2010
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 130 Watt

i7-3970X Extreme Edition has a 35.4% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 2 years.

i7-980X, on the other hand, has 15.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-980X in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i7-980X, 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 i7-980X
Core i7-980X

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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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4.2 89 votes

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Questions & comments

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