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Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3970X

Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3970X: game performance, price, value, and specification comparison. Select comparison game parameters.

FPS Winner

Intel Core i9-12900KF

3.2 GHz | 16-core

Intel Core i9-12900KF Logo
Intel Core i9-12900KF Gaming Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz Unlocked LGA1700 600 Series Chipset 125W

Buy for 221.97 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 94 minutes ago

vs

Intel Core i7-3970X

3.5 GHz | 6-core

Intel Core i7-3970X Logo
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-3970X 3.5GHz 5.0GT/s 15MB LGA2011 Processor Without -fan, Retail BX80619I73970X

Buy for 143.54 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 93 minutes ago

FPS Winner

Intel Core i9-12900KF

3.2 GHz | 16-core

Intel Core i9-12900KF Logo
Intel Core i9-12900KF Gaming Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz Unlocked LGA1700 600 Series Chipset 125W

Buy for 221.97 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 94 minutes ago

vs

Intel Core i7-3970X

3.5 GHz | 6-core

Intel Core i7-3970X Logo
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-3970X 3.5GHz 5.0GT/s 15MB LGA2011 Processor Without -fan, Retail BX80619I73970X

Buy for 143.54 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 93 minutes ago

Key Differences

In short — Core i9-12900KF outperforms the cheaper Core i7-3970X on the selected game parameters. However, the worse performing Core i7-3970X is a better bang for your buck. The better performing Core i9-12900KF is 3290 days newer than the cheaper Core i7-3970X.

Advantages of Intel Core i9-12900KF

  • Performs up to 30% better in Lost Ark than Core i7-3970X - 298 vs 230 FPS
  • Consumes up to 17% less energy than Intel Core i7-3970X - 125 vs 150 Watts
  • Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously than Intel Core i7-3970X - 24 vs 12 threads

Advantages of Intel Core i7-3970X

  • Up to 35% cheaper than Core i9-12900KF - $129.32 vs $199.97
  • Up to 16% better value when playing Lost Ark than Core i9-12900KF - $0.62 vs $0.74 per FPS
This is a free version of Lost Ark.
Lost Ark

Lost Ark

Resolution

1920 x 1080

Game Graphics

Very High

Intel Core i9-12900KF Logo
Core i9-12900KF

Desktop • Nov 4th, 2021


FPS

298

100%

Value, €/FPS

€0.74/FPS

84%

Price, €

€221.97

64%

FPS Winner

Intel Core i9-12900KF Gaming Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz Unlocked LGA1700 600 Series Chipset 125W

Buy for 221.97 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 94 minutes ago

Intel Core i7-3970X Logo
Core i7-3970X

Desktop • Nov 1st, 2012


FPS

230

77%

Value, €/FPS

€0.62/FPS

100%

Price, €

€143.54

100%

Value Winner

Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-3970X 3.5GHz 5.0GT/s 15MB LGA2011 Processor Without -fan, Retail BX80619I73970X

Buy for 143.54 on Amazon

In Stock

Updated 93 minutes ago

TOP 5 Games

Resolution

1920 x 1080

Game Graphics

Very High

Intel Core i9-12900KF Logo
Core i9-12900KF

Desktop • Nov 4th, 2021

Intel Core i7-3970X Logo
Core i7-3970X

Desktop • Nov 1st, 2012

Geekbench 5 Benchmarks

Intel Core i9-12900KF Logo
Core i9-12900KF

Desktop • Nov 4th, 2021


Single-Core

2542

100%

Multi-Core

14881

100%

Intel Core i7-3970X Logo
Core i7-3970X

Desktop • Nov 1st, 2012


Single-Core

648

25%

Multi-Core

3305

22%

Nov 4th, 2021
Release DateNov 1st, 2012
Core i9CollectionCore i7
Alder LakeCodenameSandy Bridge E
Intel Socket 1700SocketIntel Socket 2011
Desktop
Segment
Desktop
16
Cores6
24
Threads12
3.2 GHzBase Clock Speed
3.5 GHz
5.2 GHz
Turbo Clock Speed4.0 GHz
125 W
TDP150 W
10 nm
Process Size32 nm
32.0xMultiplier
35.0x
NoneIntegrated GraphicsNone
YesOverclockableYes

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