i7-3770K vs i7-990X EE

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-990X EE
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.17
+2.5%
Core i7-3770K
2012
4 cores / 8 threads, 77 Watt
4.07

Core i7-990X EE outperforms Core i7-3770K by a minimal 2% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13781397
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.62
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency3.045.00
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release dateno data (2024 years ago)29 April 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$294

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speedno data3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.73 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI
Bus rate6400 MHz5 GT/s
Multiplierno data35
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cacheno data256K (per core)
L3 cacheno data8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm22 nm
Die sizeno data160 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data67 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data67 °C
Number of transistorsno data1,400 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K 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 configurationno data1
SocketLGA-1366FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt77 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
FDIno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 4000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.15 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

i7-990X EE 4.17
+2.5%
i7-3770K 4.07

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-990X EE 6624
+2.4%
i7-3770K 6466

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-990X EE 4204
i7-3770K 5536
+31.7%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-990X EE 22228
+0.2%
i7-3770K 22190

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-990X EE 7042
i7-3770K 7229
+2.7%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-990X EE 5.17
+23.6%
i7-3770K 6.39

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-990X EE 9
+14.9%
i7-3770K 8

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.17 4.07
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Chip lithography 32 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 77 Watt

i7-990X EE has a 2.5% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i7-3770K, on the other hand, has a 45.5% more advanced lithography process, and 68.8% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-990X EE and Core i7-3770K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-990X EE
Core i7-990X EE
Intel Core i7-3770K
Core i7-3770K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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