The Core i7-3970X is the comparison's loser – it's a much slower gaming CPU than the Core i7-4790 and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's $80.57 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i7-3970X
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 12 vs 8 threads
Advantages of the Core i7-4790
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- Up to 51% cheaper – $78.76 vs $159.33
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 44% less energy – 84 vs 150 Watts
- Has an integrated GPU, while the Core i7-3970X cannot run games without a dedicated GPU
Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i7-3970X
Nov 1st, 2012
Average FPS
172
95%
Min 1% FPS
115
95%
Price, €
€159.33
49%
Value, €/FPS
€0.92/FPS
47%
Core i7-4790
May 1st, 2014
Average FPS
182
100%
Min 1% FPS
121
100%
Price, €
€78.76
100%
Value, €/FPS
€0.43/FPS
100%
Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790 in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790 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
97%
Turbo Frequency
4 GHz
100%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
100%
Core i7-4790
May 1st, 2014
Cores
4-core
67%
L3 Cache
8 MB
53%
Base Frequency
3.6 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
4 GHz
100%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
100%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i7-3970X | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Nov 1st, 2012 | Release Date | May 1st, 2014 |
| $990.00 | MSRP | $312.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 2011 | Socket | Intel Socket 1150 |
| Sandy Bridge E | Codename | Haswell |
| 150 W | Power Consumption | 84 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 4 |
12 | Threads | 8 |
| 3.5 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.6 GHz |
| 4.0 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 4.0 GHz |
15 MB | L3 Cache | 8 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1600 MHz |
| No | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
