The Core i7-3970X is a clear winner – it's at least 2x faster gaming CPU than the Core i3-540 and it's also a slightly better value for money, as it's only $71.78 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i7-3970X
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- A slightly better value for money for gaming
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 12 vs 4 threads
Advantages of the Core i3-540
- Up to 41% cheaper – $103.22 vs $175.00
- Consumes up to 51% less energy – 73 vs 150 Watts
- Can run games without a dedicated GPU as it has integrated graphics
Core i7-3970X vs Core i3-540 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i7-3970X
Nov 1st, 2012
Average FPS
699
100%
Min 1% FPS
360
100%
Price, $
$175
58%
Value, $/FPS
$0.25/FPS
60%
Core i3-540
Jan 7th, 2010
Average FPS
673
96%
Min 1% FPS
347
96%
Price, $
$103.22
100%
Value, $/FPS
$0.15/FPS
100%
Core i7-3970X vs Core i3-540 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 i3-540 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i3-540 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
100%
Core i3-540
Jan 7th, 2010
Cores
2-core
33%
L3 Cache
4 MB
27%
Base Frequency
3.07 GHz
88%
Turbo Frequency
GHz
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1333 MHz
83%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i7-3970X | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Nov 1st, 2012 | Release Date | Jan 7th, 2010 |
| $990.00 | MSRP | $133.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 2011 | Socket | Intel Socket 1156 |
| Sandy Bridge E | Codename | Clarkdale |
| 150 W | Power Consumption | 73 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 2 |
12 | Threads | 4 |
3.5 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.1 GHz |
| 4.0 GHz | Turbo Frequency | Non-Turbo |
15 MB | L3 Cache | 4 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1333 MHz |
| No | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
