Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition vs Intel Core i7-3970X

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Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition compared with Core i7-3970X

	IntelCore i7-3960X Extreme Edition	IntelCore i7-3970X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2011	November 2012
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	6
Threads
Threads	12	12
Base clock
Base clock	3.3 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.9 GHz	4 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	15 MB
Cores
Cores	Six cores and twelve threads with Hyper-Threading; fully unlocked multiplier confirmed by Intel’s exact product brief. Intel states that VT-d requires C2 stepping.	Sandy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	3.30 GHz base and up to 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost 2.0. Intel gives Q4 2011; EE Times’ contemporary 14 November report quotes Intel confirming the exact model is available now. Newegg’s earlier listing date alone does not establish sale.	Turbo 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.
Cache
Cache	15 MB shared L3 cache.	–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	Intel’s exact-model Extreme Edition chart lists no processor graphics.	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011
Base power
Base power	130 W	150 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 64 GB across four DDR3-1066/1333/1600 channels; maximum 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC.	Four 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.
PCIe
PCIe	40 PCIe 2.0 lanes in Intel’s current exact specification page.	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 2.0 according to the current Intel specification page.
Chipsets
Chipsets	–	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Process
Process	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package 52.5 × 45.0 mm; Intel’s 66.8°C limit is TCASE, not junction temperature.	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly says the boxed product has no fan or heatsink. Requires separate LGA2011-compatible cooling; the original product brief names X79.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.