Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i7-4960X

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Core i7-3970X compared with Core i7-4960X

	IntelCore i7-3970X	IntelCore i7-4960X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	September 2013
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	6
Threads
Threads	12	12
Base clock
Base clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4 GHz	4 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	15 MB
Cores
Cores	Sandy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Ivy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Clocks
Clocks	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.	Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.00 GHz. September availability follows contemporary Ivy Bridge-E store availability coverage and Expert Reviews’ 10 September exact-model review with a retail supplier and price. Intel gives Q3 2013; an exact maker first-sale day was not established.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.	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	150 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	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.	Up to 64 GB; four channels of DDR3-1333/1600/1866; maximum bandwidth 59.7 GB/s; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 2.0 according to the current Intel specification page.	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.
Process
Process	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.	22 nm; Ivy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.