i3-1215U vs i7-6970HQ

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1654	1019
Place by popularity	not in top-100	21
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Alder Lake-M
Power efficiency	6.14	43.09
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date	2 January 2016 (8 years ago)	23 February 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$623	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U 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	4 (Quad-Core)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	8	8
Base clock speed	2.8 GHz	1.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	4.4 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	no data
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	28	no data
L1 cache	256 KB	80K (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U 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	FCBGA1440	FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	128 MB	no data
Speed Shift	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
Smart Response	+	no data
Deep Learning Boost	-	+

Security technologies

Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	-
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	64 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580	Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz	1.1 GHz
Execution Units	no data	64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	4
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U.

PCIe version	3.0	4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.92	6.83
Recency	2 January 2016	23 February 2022
Physical cores	4	6
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6970HQ and Core i3-1215U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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