AMD Ryzen 7 1700X vs Intel Core i7-3970X

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Ryzen 7 1700X compared with Core i7-3970X
AMDRyzen 7 1700XIntelCore i7-3970X
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2017November 2012
Cores and clocks
Cores8 (better)6
Threads16 (better)12
Base clock3.4 GHz3.5 GHz
Boost clock3.8 GHz4 GHz (better)
L3 cache16 MB (better)15 MB
CoresZen; Summit Ridge; simultaneous multithreadingSandy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
ClocksUp to 3.8 GHz boost; unlocked for overclockingTurbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.00 GHz. November retail availability is established by Golem’s 14 November 2012 report of the exact model being offered by German retailers; Intel gives Q4 2012. An exact maker first-sale day was not established.
CacheL1 768 KB; L2 4 MB; L3 16 MB–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphicsNoNo
GraphicsA separate graphics card is requiredNo processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
SocketAM4LGA2011
Base power95 W150 W
UnlockedYesYes
Cooler in the boxNoNo
Memory supportDDR4; 2 memory channels; up to 2667 MT/sFour channels of DDR3-1066/1333/1600; maximum bandwidth 51.2 GB/s; no ECC. Current Intel ARK gives an anomalous 64.45 GB maximum memory size; that literal wording is retained here without treating it as a reliable numeric limit.
PCIePCIe 3.0 x1640 CPU lanes; PCIe 2.0 according to the current Intel specification page.
Chipsets–X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Process14 nm CPU cores32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.
CoolerRetail boxed processor has no cooler; AMD lists Wraith Max for the separate multipack version; Tjmax 95°CIntel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.

More comparisons