Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition vs Intel Core i7-970

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Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition compared with Core i7-970

	IntelCore i7-3960X Extreme Edition	IntelCore i7-970
Overview
Released
Released	November 2011	July 2010
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	6
Threads
Threads	12	12
Base clock
Base clock	3.3 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.9 GHz (better)	3.46 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB (better)	12 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.	Six cores and twelve threads with Hyper-Threading. Clubic and bit-tech explicitly describe a multiplier locked upwards; base-clock overclocking remains possible.
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.	3.2 GHz base and up to 3.46 GHz Turbo Boost. Intel lists Q3 2010. July on-sale precision uses TechSpot's contemporary 19 July 2010 report of the exact processor in stock; a maker-confirmed first-sale day was not found.
Cache
Cache	15 MB shared L3 cache.	12 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.	Intel's exact-model comparison chart lists no processor graphics.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA1366
Base power
Base power	130 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	No
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	Yes
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 64 GB across four DDR3-1066/1333/1600 channels; maximum 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC.	DDR3-1066 rated maximum in Intel's exact-model chart; Clubic confirms three-channel memory. Optional maximum capacity is omitted.
PCIe
PCIe	40 PCIe 2.0 lanes in Intel’s current exact specification page.	Intel's WX58BP processor compatibility table lists a 4.8 GT/s QPI connection for the exact i7-970. PCIe expansion is provided by the chipset, so no CPU lane count is assumed.
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; Gulftown.
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's 32 nm Core i7-900 datasheet includes an unattached fan heatsink with boxed processors. Clubic describes the supplied copper-base tower cooler; second-hand and tray packages may differ.