The Core i7-3970X is the comparison's loser – it's a much slower gaming CPU than the Core i5-6600 and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's $123.29 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i7-3970X
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 12 vs 4 threads
Advantages of the Core i5-6600
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- Up to 77% cheaper – $36.04 vs $159.33
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 57% less energy – 65 vs 150 Watts
- Can run games without a dedicated GPU as it has integrated graphics
Core i7-3970X vs Core i5-6600 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i7-3970X
Nov 1st, 2012
Average FPS
172
93%
Min 1% FPS
115
94%
Price, €
€159.33
22%
Value, €/FPS
€0.92/FPS
21%
Core i5-6600
Jul 1st, 2015
Average FPS
184
100%
Min 1% FPS
122
100%
Price, €
€36.04
100%
Value, €/FPS
€0.19/FPS
100%
Core i7-3970X vs Core i5-6600 in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games, click on a game to change it
The FPS you'll get in saved games, click on a game to change it
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i5-6600 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i5-6600 in core CPU performance specifications
Core i7-3970X
Nov 1st, 2012
Cores
6-core
100%
L3 Cache
15 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3.5 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
4 GHz
100%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
75%
Core i5-6600
Jul 1st, 2015
Cores
4-core
67%
L3 Cache
6 MB
40%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
94%
Turbo Frequency
3.9 GHz
98%
Max. DDR4 RAM Speed
2133 MHz
100%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i7-3970X | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i5-6600 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Nov 1st, 2012 | Release Date | Jul 1st, 2015 |
| $990.00 | MSRP | $224.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 2011 | Socket | Intel Socket 1151 |
| Sandy Bridge E | Codename | Skylake |
| 150 W | Power Consumption | 65 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 4 |
12 | Threads | 4 |
3.5 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
4.0 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 3.9 GHz |
15 MB | L3 Cache | 6 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 2133 MHz, DDR4 @ 2133 MHz |
| No | Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 530 |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
