Intel Core i7-960 vs Intel Core i7-970

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Core i7-960 compared with Core i7-970

	IntelCore i7-960	IntelCore i7-970
Overview
Released
Released	October 2009	July 2010
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	4	6 (better)
Threads
Threads	8	12 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.46 GHz	3.46 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	12 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Four cores and eight threads with Hyper-Threading. Hardware-Magazin's exact-model introduction explicitly describes a fixed multiplier; base-clock overclocking remains possible.	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	3.2 GHz base and up to 3.46 GHz Turbo Boost. Intel lists Q4 2009. The October on-sale month uses Tom's Hardware Italia's 20 October 2009 availability report and TweakTown's 21 October report of a listed OEM chip. Japan's boxed retail availability followed in February 2010.	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	8 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 comparison chart lists no processor graphics.	Intel's exact-model comparison chart lists no processor graphics.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA1366	LGA1366
Base power
Base power	130 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	No	No
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	Yes
Memory support
Memory support	Three channels of DDR3-800 or DDR3-1066; up to 24 GB in Intel's 45 nm Core i7-900 datasheet. Faster memory used by reviews is not the maker's rated limit.	DDR3-1066 rated maximum in Intel's exact-model chart; Clubic confirms three-channel memory. Optional maximum capacity is omitted.
PCIe
PCIe	–	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	45 nm; Bloomfield.	32 nm; Gulftown.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel's boxed-processor datasheet includes an unattached fan and heatsink. An LGA1366 motherboard is required.	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.