Intel Core i7-3970X
Intel Core i3-10100
Select video card 1
Select video card 2

Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i3-10100. Specifications, performance, tests

User rating
star star star star star
Released
Q4/2012
Intel Core i7-3970X
Intel Core i7-3970X
Released
Q2/2020
User rating
star star star star star
Intel Core i3-10100
Intel Core i3-10100

What's the best choice Intel Core i7-3970X or Intel Core i3-10100? Which processor is faster?

We have prepared a comparison to help you choose the best processor. Compare their specifications and benchmarks.

Intel Core i7-3970X has a base frequency of 3.50 GHz. 6 CPU Cores / Threads. Stated TDP / base power 150 W. Released in Q4/2012.

Intel Core i3-10100 has a base frequency of 3.60 GHz. 4 CPU Cores / Threads. Stated TDP / base power 65 W. Released in Q2/2020.

Differences

  • More number of cores

    2 more cores

    6 left arrow 4

Positions in all rankings

Common positions Intel Core i7-3970X CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

  • Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
    553 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
    284 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    629 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    352 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)
    373 place
  • Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    175 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    317 place
  • Cinebench R11.5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    171 place
  • Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
    293 place
  • Place in the overall ranking

    (based on several benchmarks)

    202 left arrow place
  • Higher clock speed

    Around 3% better clock speed

    3.60 GHz left arrow 3.50 GHz
  • Higher turbo clock speed

    Around 8 % higher specified turbo frequency

    4.30 GHz left arrow 4.00 GHz
  • Lower stated TDP / base power

    Power limits alone do not measure performance per watt.

    65 W left arrow 150 W

Positions in all rankings

Common positions Intel Core i3-10100 CPU in popular benchmarks, for comparison with other models.

  • Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
    205 place
  • Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
    225 place
  • Cinebench R20 (Single-Core)
    202 place
  • Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core)
    241 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
    136 place
  • Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
    303 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
    297 place
  • Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
    409 place
  • iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)
    743 place

Specifications

Technical data
Intel Core i7-3970X Intel Core i7-3970X
Intel Core i3-10100 Intel Core i3-10100
CPU family and group

Background information about the processors being compared, series, generation and market segment.

  • CPU group
    Intel Core i 3000X left arrow Intel Core i 10000
  • Family
    Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition left arrow Intel Core i3
  • Generation
    3 left arrow 10
  • Predecessor
    - left arrow Intel Core i3-9100
  • Segment
    Desktop / Server left arrow Desktop / Server
CPU Technical specs

Core counts, threads, cache and clock modes describe the CPU configuration. Performance depends on the workload and comparable measured results.

  • Base Frequency
    3.5 GHz left arrow 3.6 GHz
  • Core architecture
    normal left arrow normal
  • CPU Cores
    6 left arrow 4
  • CPU Threads
    12 left arrow 8
  • Hyperthreading / SMT
    Yes left arrow Yes
  • Overclocking
    Yes left arrow No
  • Turbo Frequency (1 Core)
    4 GHz left arrow 4.3 GHz
  • Turbo Frequency (6 Cores)
    4 GHz left arrow -
  • Turbo Frequency (4 Cores)
    - left arrow 4.1 GHz
IGPU

Internal Graphics does not affect the performance of the CPU, performs the work of the graphics card in its absence or on mobile devices.

  • DirectX Version
    - left arrow 12
  • Execution units
    - left arrow 24
  • Generation
    - left arrow 9.5
  • GPU Frequency
    - left arrow 350 MHz
  • GPU name
    no iGPU left arrow Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • GPU Turbo
    No turbo left arrow 1100 MHz
  • Max. displays
    - left arrow 3
  • Max. GPU Memory
    - left arrow 64 GB
  • Release date
    - left arrow Q4/2017
  • Shader
    - left arrow 192
  • Technology
    - left arrow 14 nm
Hardware codec support

Built-in codecs used to encode and decode content. Significantly speeds up the required operations.

  • AV1
    No left arrow No
  • H.264 / AVC
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
  • h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
  • h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
  • JPEG
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
  • VC-1
    No left arrow Decode
  • VP8
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
  • VP9
    No left arrow Decode / Encode
Memory specs & PCI

Types, channel quantity of RAM supported by Intel Core i3-10100 and Intel Core i7-3970X. Depending on the motherboards, higher or lower memory frequencies may be supported.

  • ECC
    No left arrow No
  • Max. Memory
    - left arrow 128 GB
  • Memory channels
    4 left arrow 2
  • Memory type
    DDR3-1600 left arrow DDR4-2666
  • PCIe lanes
    - left arrow 16
  • PCIe version
    - left arrow 3.0
Encryption
  • AES-NI
    Yes left arrow Yes
Thermal Management

Compare the TDP requirements of TDP Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i3-10100 Power specifications describe different manufacturer limits. TDP, base power and maximum turbo power are separate values; they do not establish measured system consumption.

  • Maximum Operating Temperature
    - left arrow 100 °C
  • TDP (PL1, legacy label)
    150 W left arrow 65 W
Technologies and extensions

Architecture, interfaces, additional instructions supported by Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i3-10100, virtual machine technologies and process technology.

  • Architecture
    Sandy Bridge E left arrow Comet Lake S
  • Instruction set (ISA)
    x86-64 (64 bit) left arrow x86-64 (64 bit)
  • ISA extensions
    SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX left arrow SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
  • L3-Cache
    15 MB left arrow 6 MB
  • Release date
    Q4/2012 left arrow Q2/2020
  • Socket
    LGA 2011 left arrow LGA 1200
  • Technology
    32 nm left arrow 14 nm
  • Virtualization
    VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping) left arrow VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d

Benchmarks

Performance tests CPUs

Based on the results of several benchmarks, you can more accurately estimate the difference in performance between Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i3-10100.

Compare the synthetic test values and choose the best processor!

These are saved results from the earlier catalog. Measurement dates and test configurations were not recorded. Models with no comparable results are omitted.

Recent models: test results with identified primary sources — Cinebench R23 · Cinebench R20 · Cinebench R15 · Cinebench 2026 · RandomX benchmark

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
The Cinebench R15 SC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware

Higher values are better in this metric.

135.000000
Intel Core i7-3970X
191.000000
Intel Core i3-10100
Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
The Cinebench R15 MC stresses the computing modules of a desktop or laptop computer to their limits and accurately determines the key performance parameters of the hardware

Higher values are better in this metric.

1065.000000
Intel Core i7-3970X
1001.000000
Intel Core i3-10100
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 SC is a popular cross-platform performance test for desktop or mobile processors that uses system memory intensively

Higher values are better in this metric.

801.000000
Intel Core i7-3970X
1140.000000
Intel Core i3-10100
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
Geekbench 5 MC is a popular cross-platform performance test for desktop or mobile processors that uses system memory intensively

Higher values are better in this metric.

4981.000000
Intel Core i7-3970X
4403.000000
Intel Core i3-10100

Latest comparisons