300 vs Core i7-3970X

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X and 300 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1086	1227
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.34	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)	no data
Release date	1 November 2012 (11 years ago)	1 January 2024 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$593	no data
Current price	$290 (0.5x MSRP)	$77

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X and 300 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)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	12	4
Base clock speed	3.5 GHz	no data
Boost clock speed	4 GHz	no data
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	no data
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	no data
L3 cache	15 MB (shared)	6 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Chip lithography	32 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	435 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	67 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	70 °C	no data
Number of transistors	2,270 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	no data
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X and 300 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	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	150 Watt	no data

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X and 300. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X and 300 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
Identity Protection	+	no data
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X and 300 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X and 300. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	64.45 GB	192 GB
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel UHD Graphics 710
Quick Sync Video	no data	+
Clear Video HD	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.45 GHz
Execution Units	no data	16

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X and 300 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

no data

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3970X and 300 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X and 300 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X and 300.

PCIe version	2.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes	40	20

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 i7-3970X outperforms 300 by 19% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	5.52	4.63
Recency	1 November 2012	1 January 2024
Physical cores	6	2
Threads	12	4

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X and 300, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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