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

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

	IntelCore i7-3970X	IntelCore i9-14900KS
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	March 2024
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	6.2 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.	Raptor Lake; 8 Performance-cores with Hyper-Threading and 16 Efficient-cores
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 and turbo 5.7 GHz; E-core base 2.4 GHz and turbo 4.5 GHz; Turbo Boost Max 3.0 5.9 GHz; Thermal Velocity Boost up to 6.2 GHz
Cache
Cache	–	32 MB L2 cache
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; 300 MHz base and 1.65 GHz maximum dynamic clock
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011	LGA1700
Base power
Base power	150 W	150 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 192 GB; two channels; DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3200; ECC support depends on the motherboard and configuration
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 2.0 according to the current Intel specification page.	20 CPU lanes; PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
Chipsets
Chipsets	X79 and LGA2011, confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Intel recommends Z790 or Z690 with the latest BIOS
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.	Maximum operating temperature 100 °C; maker maximum turbo power 253 W. The 320 W Extreme profiles used in launch reviews are separate operating configurations.