Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i7-6950X

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Core i7-3970X compared with Core i7-6950X

	IntelCore i7-3970X	IntelCore i7-6950X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	May 2016
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	10 (better)
Threads
Threads	12	20 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.5 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4 GHz	4 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	25 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Sandy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Broadwell-E; 10 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 Max 3.0 up to 4.00 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. May availability follows Tom’s Hardware’s 31 May 2016 report, attributing immediate sale of all four models to Intel. Intel’s family record is dated 30 May and ARK gives Q2 2016; the announcement day is not treated as an exact first-sale day.
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-v3
Base power
Base power	150 W	140 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 128 GB; four channels of DDR4-2133/2400; 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.	X99 and LGA2011-v3, distinguished by Intel’s exact-model comparison chart and the reviews. Current ARK abbreviates the socket as FCLGA2011; this is not compatible with the older X79 LGA2011 platform.
Process
Process	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.	14 nm; Broadwell-E.
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.