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Intel

Core i7 970

▲ 5262 ▼

6 Cores, 12 Threads @3.2 GHz, Gulftown.
Release date ≤ Q2 2014.

Average Bench: 73.4% (330th of 1442)

Based on 4,313 user benchmarks.  Devices: BFEBFBFF000206C2, 1F8BFBFF000206C2, 0F8BFBFF000206C2 Model: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 970 @ 3.20GHz
Poor: 65%Average: 73.4% Great: 83%
Gaming
Gaming 73%
Battleship
Desktop
Desktop 74%
Battleship
Workstation
Workstation 61%
Destroyer

Popular builds with this CPU

Good average bench

The Intel Core i7 970 averaged 26.5% lower than the peak scores attained by the group leaders. This isn't a great result which indicates that there are much faster alternatives on the comparison list.

Strengths

Avg. Memory Latency 88.5Pts
Avg. Quad Core Speed 316Pts

Very good consistency

The range of scores (95th - 5th percentile) for the Intel Core i7 970 is just 17.4%. This is a relatively narrow range which indicates that the Intel Core i7 970 performs reasonably consistently under varying real world conditions.

Weaknesses

Avg. Multi Core Speed 605Pts
Avg. Octa Core Speed 498Pts
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Average Bench

(Based on 4,313 samples)
Rank 33073.4%
Min Avg Max
80.2 Memory 88.5 96
68.4 1-Core 82.2 100
136 2-Core 164 200
66.7% 111 Pts
Min Avg Max
248 4-Core 316 383
399 8-Core 498 615
50.2% 407 Pts
Min Avg Max
487 64-Core 605 746
37.5% 605 Pts
User Benchmarks BenchNormalHeavyServer
The fastest CPU (mainstream) averages a speed of 100%
LGA1366, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.2 GHz (avg)
77.3% Very good
Memory 90
1-Core 95
2-Core 191
73% 125 Pts
4-Core 349
8-Core 540
55% 444 Pts
64-Core 691
43% 691 Pts
CPU 1, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.3 GHz (avg)
76.9% Very good
Memory 92.6
1-Core 82.9
2-Core 166
68% 114 Pts
4-Core 332
8-Core 505
52% 418 Pts
64-Core 580
36% 580 Pts
LGA1366, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.35 GHz (avg)
76.1% Very good
Memory 92.7
1-Core 79.3
2-Core 167
68% 113 Pts
4-Core 322
8-Core 487
50% 405 Pts
64-Core 609
38% 609 Pts
CPU 1, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.35 GHz (avg)
75.3% Very good
Memory 94.5
1-Core 84.1
2-Core 167
70% 115 Pts
4-Core 304
8-Core 479
48% 392 Pts
64-Core 600
37% 600 Pts
CPU 1, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 2.8 GHz, turbo 3.3 GHz (avg)
72.5% Very good
Memory 86.4
1-Core 83.6
2-Core 169
67% 113 Pts
4-Core 317
8-Core 475
49% 396 Pts
64-Core 616
38% 616 Pts
Socket 1366, 1 CPU, 6 cores, 12 threads
Base clock 3.2 GHz, turbo 3.3 GHz (avg)
72.2% Very good
Memory 84.3
1-Core 82.8
2-Core 163
65% 110 Pts
4-Core 325
8-Core 487
50% 406 Pts
64-Core 574
36% 574 Pts
4,313 MORE »

 Market Share (See Leaders)

The number of benchmark samples for this model as a percentage of all 67,743,075 CPUs tested

 Prices

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AmazonUS $1,1412 years
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Custom PC Builder (Start a new build) Build your perfect PC: compare component prices, popularity, speed and value for money

CHOOSE A COMPONENT:

CPU GPU SSD HDD RAM MBD
Typical Core i7 970 Builds (Compare 1,656 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings
Gaming
Gaming 39%
Jet ski
Desktop
Desktop 77%
Battleship
Workstation
Workstation 33%
Sail boat

Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH X58

CPU
Core i7 970Intel  $1,141Bench 73%, 4,313 samples1x
GPU
GTX 970Nvidia  $200Bench 49%, 834,238 samples116x
GTX 1060-6GBNvidia  $117Bench 56%, 1,368,019 samples88x
GTX 1050-TiNvidia  $59Bench 29%, 946,701 samples79x
SSD
860 Evo 500GBSamsung  $80Bench 105%, 762,998 samples67x
860 Evo 1TBSamsung  $130Bench 112%, 602,853 samples55x
850 Evo 250GBSamsung  $100Bench 103%, 951,591 samples47x
RAM
6x4GBUnknownBench 47%, 28,320 samples308x
3x4GBUnknownBench 42%, 39,448 samples253x
6x2GBUnknownBench 46%, 38,297 samples185x
EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER Value: 50% - Average Total price: $1,421

Popular Core i7 970 compatible motherboards:

How Fast Is Your CPU? (Bench your build) Size up your PC in less than a minute

Welcome to our PC speed test tool. UserBenchmark will test your PC and compare the results to other users with the same components. You can quickly size up your PC, identify hardware problems and explore the best value for money upgrades.

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  • - CPU tests include: integer, floating and string
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  • - Drive tests include: read, write, sustained write and mixed IO
  • - RAM tests include: single/multi core bandwidth and latency
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  • - Reports are generated and presented on userbenchmark.com
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Processor Rankings (Price vs Performance) April 2024 CPU Rankings

We calculate effective speed which measures real world performance for typical users. Effective speed is adjusted by current prices to yield a value for money rating. Our calculated values are checked against thousands of individual user ratings. The customizable table below combines these factors to bring you the definitive list of top CPUs. [CPUPro]

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Group Test Results

  • Best user rated - User sentiment trumps benchmarks for this comparison.
  • Best value for money - Value for money is based on real world performance.
  • Fastest real world speed - Real World Speed measures performance for typical consumers.

 Specifications

Essentials

DescriptionIntel® Core™ i7-970 Processor (12M Cache, 3.20 GHz, 4.80 GT/s Intel® QPI)
Code NameGulftown
Launch DateQ3'10
Processor Numberi7-970
# of Cores6
# of Threads12
Cache12 MB SmartCache
Instruction Set64-bit
Instruction Set ExtensionsSSE4.2
Embedded Options AvailableNo
Lithography32 nm
VID Voltage Range0.800V-1.375V
Recommended Price$594.00
Clock Speed3.2 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency3.46 GHz
Bus Speed4.8 GT/s QPI
QPI Links1
Max TDP130 W

Memory

Max Memory Size24 GB
Memory TypesDDR3 800/1066
Memory Channels3
Memory Bandwidth25.6 GB/s
Physical Address Extensions36-bit
ECC Memory SupportedNo

Data Protection

AES New InstructionsYes

Advanced Technologies

Virtualization Tech (VT-x)Yes
Intel 64Yes
Idle StatesYes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® TechYes
Thermal Monitoring TechnologiesNo
Turbo Boost Tech1.0
Hyper-Threading TechYes
VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)Yes
Demand Based SwitchingNo

Package

Package Size42.5mm X 45.0mm
Max CPU Configuration1
Sockets SupportedFCLGA1366
Processing Die Size239 mm2

Platform Protection

Execute Disable BitYes
Trusted Execution TechNo

 Comments

Added n/a ago.
USA-User
Avatar level
9,836

Excellent (edit your comment) Add link

20 months ago.

CAN-User
Avatar level
4,956

Excellent

3 years ago.

Love it fast enough too play new games in 2020 at 200fps steady paired with a Asus dual OC gtx 1060 but probably even better with a RTX 2060super too reach full potential

Your
opinion?
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Ready to retire
Age: 10 years

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1442 Processors (Compared) Thousands of user benchmarks compiled into one comparison list

See how consistently different CPUs perform with varying real world conditions. The charts also illustrate overall performance, popularity and rank.

 Frequently Asked Questions

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ALL FAQs »

 Best User Rated
The Best.
CPUGPUSSD
Intel Core i5-13600K $273Nvidia RTX 4060 $295Crucial MX500 250GB $40
Intel Core i5-12400F $133Nvidia RTX 4060-Ti $385Samsung 850 Evo 120GB $80
Intel Core i5-12600K $179Nvidia RTX 4070 $539Samsung 860 Evo 250GB $52
HDDRAMUSB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB (2016) $39Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB $40SanDisk Extreme 64GB $72
WD Blue 1TB (2012) $37Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x8GB $43SanDisk Extreme 32GB $28
Seagate Barracuda 2TB (2016) $51G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 3200 C14 4x16GB $351SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB $16
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