Core i9-14900K vs Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.97
Core i9-14900K
2023
24 cores / 32 threads, 125 Watt
39.26
+558%

i9-14900K outperforms i7-3970X Extreme Edition by a whopping 558% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking104165
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.6862.42
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7EEno data
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Raptor Lake-R
Release date12 November 2012 (11 years ago)17 October 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$589
Current price$690 $694 (1.2x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-14900K has 9079% better value for money than i7-3970X Extreme Edition.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K 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)24 (Tetracosa-Core)
Threads1232
Base clock speedno data3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz5.8 GHz
Bus support5 GT/sno data
L1 cacheno data80 KB (per core)
L2 cache1,536 KB2 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB36 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data257 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplierNoYes

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K 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 dataFCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSXno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoringno data+
SIPPno data+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Statusno dataLaunched

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB192 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data89.6 GB/s
ECC memory supportno data+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.65 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K.

PCIe version2.005.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes4020

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.97 39.26
Recency 12 November 2012 17 October 2023
Physical cores 6 24
Threads 12 32
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 125 Watt

The Core i9-14900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Core i9-14900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Intel Core i9-14900K
Core i9-14900K

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

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


4 27 votes

Rate Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.6 1264 votes

Rate Core i9-14900K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition or Core i9-14900K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.