Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i9-14900K

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Core i7-3970X compared with Core i9-14900K

	IntelCore i7-3970X	IntelCore i9-14900K
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	October 2023
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	24 (8 performance, 16 efficiency) (better)
Threads
Threads	12	32 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.5 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4 GHz	6 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	15 MB	36 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Sandy Bridge-E; 6 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores, with Hyper-Threading; codename Raptor Lake
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.	P-core base 3.2 GHz, max turbo 5.6 GHz; E-core base 2.4 GHz, max turbo 4.4 GHz; Turbo Boost Max 3.0 5.8 GHz; Thermal Velocity Boost 6 GHz
Cache
Cache	–	36 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3); 32 MB L2
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	Yes
Graphics
Graphics	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.	Intel UHD Graphics 770, 32 execution units, up to 1.65 GHz; outputs eDP 1.4b, DP 1.4a, HDMI 2.1; up to 4 displays
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA1700
Base power
Base power	150 W	125 W
Maximum power
Maximum power	–	253 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	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 DDR5 5600 MT/s or up to DDR4 3200 MT/s; 2 channels, up to 192 GB; ECC supported
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 2.0 according to the current Intel specification page.	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; 20 lanes (Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4); DMI 4.0 x8
Chipsets
Chipsets	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Intel 600 and 700 series
Process
Process	32 nm; Sandy Bridge-E. Package size 52.5 × 45.0 mm.	Intel 7
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.	max operating temperature 100 °C; thermal specification PCG 2020A