Processor Intel Core i7-3970X, specifications and benchmarks

This section provides a comprehensive overview of the processors generation and family, explaining the specific market segment it is designed for. It covers key details such as the CPUs position within its product lineup, its intended use cases (e.g., consumer, server, or workstation), and how its generation compares to previous models.

• Segment
  Desktop / Server
• Family
  Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition
• Generation
  3
• CPU group
  Intel Core i 3000X
• Predecessor
  --
• Successor
  --

Intel Core i7-3970X. This section highlights key performance parameters of the processor, including the number of cores, threads, and clock speeds (base and boost frequencies). These metrics directly impact multitasking capabilities and overall system performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications.

• Frequency
  3.50 GHz
• CPU Cores
  6
• Turbo (1 Core)
  4.00 GHz
• CPU Threads
  12
• Turbo (6 Cores)
  4.00 GHz
• Hyperthreading
  Yes
• Overclocking
  Yes
• Core architecture
  normal
• A core
  --
• B core
  --
• C core
  --

This section provides details on the integrated graphics capabilities of the processor. It covers the architecture, performance characteristics, and supported technologies (e.g., DirectX, OpenGL), which are essential for systems without dedicated GPUs or for mobile devices that require energy-efficient graphics processing.

• GPU name
  no iGPU
• GPU frequency
• GPU (Turbo)
  No turbo
• Execution units
• Shader
• Max. GPU Memory
  --
• Max. displays
• Generation
• DirectX Version
• Technology
• Release date

This section covers the built-in hardware codec support for video and image processing. The processor’s ability to handle codecs like H.264, HEVC, and VP9 directly influences its performance in tasks such as video playback, editing, and streaming. This hardware acceleration ensures smoother media handling with lower CPU utilization.

• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  No
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  No
• h264
  No
• VP9
  No
• VP8
  No
• AV1
  No
• AVC
  No
• VC-1
  No
• JPEG
  No

This section breaks down the technical characteristics of the memory supported by the processor, including the types (e.g., DDR4, DDR5), number of memory channels, and maximum supported memory speed. It also covers PCI Express support, which determines the bandwidth available for GPUs, SSDs, and other peripherals, critical for high-performance systems.

• Memory type
  DDR3-1600
• Max. Memory
• ECC
  No
• Memory channels
  4
• PCIe version
• PCIe lanes

This section focuses on the hardware-based security technologies integrated into the processor. These include encryption support features such as AES-NI, Intel SGX, and AMD Secure Memory Encryption, which provide robust protection for sensitive data and help mitigate cybersecurity risks.

• AES-NI
  Yes

• TDP (PL1)
  150 W
• TDP up
  --
• TDP (PL2)
  --
• TDP down
  --
• Tjunction max.
  --

This section explains the underlying technologies that enable the processor to deliver high performance. It includes details about the manufacturing process (e.g., 7nm, 10nm), supported instruction sets (e.g., AVX, SSE), and virtual machine extensions that enhance compatibility and efficiency across various workloads.

• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit)
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping)
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
• L2-Cache
  --
• L3-Cache
  15.00 MB
• Architecture
  Sandy Bridge E
• Technology
  32 nm
• Socket
  LGA 2011
• Release date
  Q4/2012
• Part Number
  --

Common positions Intel Core i7-3970X CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

• Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
  581 place
• Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
  295 place
• Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
  761 place
• Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
  517 place
• Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)
  373 place
• Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)
  181 place
• Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)
  202 place
• Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
  167 place
• Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
  438 place