The Core i7-3970X is the comparison's loser – it's a much slower gaming CPU than the Core i7-4790K and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's only $3.88 cheaper!
Advantages of the Core i7-3970X
- Up to 2% cheaper – $175.00 vs $178.88
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 12 vs 8 threads
Advantages of the Core i7-4790K
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 41% less energy – 88 vs 150 Watts
- Can run games without a dedicated GPU as it has integrated graphics
Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790K for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i7-4790K
May 1st, 2014
Average FPS
186
100%
Min 1% FPS
123
100%
Price, $
$178.88
97%
Value, $/FPS
$0.96/FPS
100%
Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790K 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 i7-4790K in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i7-3970X vs Core i7-4790K 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
88%
Turbo Frequency
4 GHz
91%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
100%
Core i7-4790K
May 1st, 2014
Cores
4-core
67%
L3 Cache
8 MB
53%
Base Frequency
4 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
4.4 GHz
100%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
100%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i7-3970X | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Nov 1st, 2012 | Release Date | May 1st, 2014 |
| $990.00 | MSRP | $350.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 2011 | Socket | Intel Socket 1150 |
| Sandy Bridge E | Codename | Haswell |
| 150 W | Power Consumption | 88 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 4 |
12 | Threads | 8 |
| 3.5 GHz | Base Frequency | 4.0 GHz |
| 4.0 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 4.4 GHz |
15 MB | L3 Cache | 8 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1600 MHz |
| No | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 |
| Yes | Overclockable | Yes |
