Core i5-9600KF vs Core i7-970

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1307	951
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.72	13.42
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	no data	Intel Core i5
Architecture codename	Gulftown (2010−2011)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date	19 July 2010 (13 years ago)	8 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$662	$262
Current price	$132 (0.2x MSRP)	$195 (0.7x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9600KF has 680% better value for money than i7-970.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF 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)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	12	6
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.46 GHz	4.6 GHz
Bus support	no data	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB (shared)	9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	239 mm2	149 mm2
Maximum core temperature	68 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	1,170 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF 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	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	no data	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	1.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	-	+
SIPP	no data	+
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF are enumerated here.

VT-d	no data	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size	24 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	3	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	-

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	no data	16

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 i5-9600KF outperforms Core i7-970 by 63% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	4.24	6.92
Recency	19 July 2010	8 January 2019
Threads	12	6
Cost	$662	$262
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	95 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-970 and Core i5-9600KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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