Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i7-3930K

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Core i7-12700K compared with Core i7-3930K

	IntelCore i7-12700K	IntelCore i7-3930K
Overview
Released
Released	November 2021	November 2011
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	12 (8 performance, 4 efficiency) (better)	6
Threads
Threads	20 (better)	12
Base clock
Base clock	3.6 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	5 GHz (better)	3.8 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	25 MB (better)	12 MB
Cores
Cores	8 P-cores and 4 E-cores; 20 threads. Intel Thread Director supported.	Six cores with Hyper-Threading; twelve threads. Fully unlocked multiplier, confirmed by Intel's exact-model brief and the reviews. VT-d is supported only by C2 stepping according to Intel.
Clocks
Clocks	P-cores: 3.6 GHz base, up to 4.9 GHz Turbo Boost 2.0 and 5 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0; E-cores: 2.7 GHz base, up to 3.8 GHz turbo.	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.80 GHz. First-sale day comes from Legit Reviews' 14 November 2011 report of the exact boxed processor in stock at Newegg, cross-checked with Puget Systems' same-day launch coverage; Intel's specification page gives Q4 2011.
Cache
Cache	25 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3); 12 MB total L2.	–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	Yes	No
Graphics
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770; 32 execution units; 300 MHz base, up to 1.5 GHz; Quick Sync Video; up to four displays.	No processor graphics; Intel's exact-model comparison-chart row lists graphics as not applicable. A separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2011
Base power
Base power	125 W	130 W
Maximum power
Maximum power	190 W	–
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 128 GB; two channels; DDR5-4800 or DDR4-3200; 76.8 GB/s; ECC supported with an appropriate platform.	Four channels of DDR3-1066/1333/1600; up to 51.2 GB/s, without ECC. Intel's later comparison chart incorrectly lists two channels; the original brief and current specification page both establish four.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; 20 CPU lanes: 1 × 16 + 4 or 2 × 8 + 4; DMI 4.0 × 8.	40 PCIe 2.0 lanes according to Intel's specification page.
Process
Process	Intel 7; Alder Lake; 45 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package measures 52.5 × 45.0 mm; Intel states a 66.8°C maximum case temperature, not a junction-temperature rating.
Cooler
Cooler	No cooler included with the boxed K processor (Intel support).	Intel explicitly says the boxed processor has no fan or heatsink. Requires an LGA2011-compatible cooler and motherboard; Intel's product brief names the X79 platform.