Intel Core i7-3970X vs Intel Core i9-12900K. Specifications

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

• CPU group
  Intel Core i 3000X Intel Core i 12000
• Family
  Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
• Generation
  3 12
• Predecessor
  - Intel Core i9-11900K
• Segment
  Desktop / Server Desktop
• Successor
  - Intel Core i9-13900K
• Processor Number
  - i9-12900K

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

• A-Core
  - 8x Golden Cove
• B-Core
  - 8x Gracemont
• Base Frequency
  3.5 GHz 3.7 GHz
• Core architecture
  normal hybrid (big.LITTLE)
• CPU Cores
  6 16
• CPU Threads
  12 24
• Hyperthreading / SMT
  Yes Yes
• Overclocking
  Yes Yes
• Turbo Frequency (1 Core)
  4 GHz 5.3 GHz
• Turbo Frequency (6 Cores)
  4 GHz -
• E-core Base Clock
  - 2.4 GHz
• E-core Max Turbo
  - 3.9 GHz
• Efficient Cores
  - 8
• Max. Boost Clock
  - 5.2 GHz
• P-core Base Clock
  - 3.2 GHz
• P-core Max Turbo
  - 5.1 GHz
• Performance Cores
  - 8
• Turbo Frequency (16 Cores)
  - 5 GHz

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
  - 12
• Execution units
  - 32
• Generation
  - 12
• GPU Frequency
  - 400 MHz
• GPU name
  no iGPU Intel UHD Graphics 770
• GPU Turbo
  No turbo 1550 MHz
• Max. displays
  - 4
• Max. GPU Memory
  - 16 GB
• Release date
  - Q4/2021
• Shader
  - 256
• Technology
  - 10 nm
• Graphics Base Frequency
  - 300 MHz
• Graphics Output
  - eDP 1.4b, DP 1.4a, HDMI 2.1

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

• AV1
  No Decode
• H.264 / AVC
  No Decode / Encode
• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  No Decode / Encode
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  No Decode / Encode
• JPEG
  No Decode / Encode
• VC-1
  No Decode
• VP8
  No Decode
• VP9
  No Decode / Encode

Types, channel quantity of RAM supported by Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-3970X. Depending on the motherboards, higher or lower memory frequencies may be supported.

• ECC
  No Yes
• Max. Memory
  - 128 GB
• Memory channels
  4 2
• Memory type
  DDR3-1600 Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
• PCIe lanes
  - 20
• PCIe version
  - 5.0 and 4.0

• AES-NI
  Yes Yes

Compare the TDP requirements of TDP Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i9-12900K 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
  - 100 °C
• TDP (PL1, legacy label)
  150 W 125 W
• TDP (PL2)
  - 228 W / 56 s
• Maximum Turbo Power
  - 241 W
• Processor Base Power (PBP)
  - 125 W

Architecture, interfaces, additional instructions supported by Intel Core i7-3970X and Intel Core i9-12900K, virtual machine technologies and process technology.

• Architecture
  Sandy Bridge E Alder Lake S
• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit) x86-64 (64 bit)
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+
• L2-Cache
  - Conflicting source values: 14 MB (Total cache capacity) | 3.75 MB
• L3-Cache
  15 MB 30 MB
• Part Number
  - BX8071512900K
• Release date
  Q4/2012 Q4/2021
• Socket
  LGA 2011 FCLGA1700
• Technology
  32 nm Conflicting source values: 10 nm | Intel 7 (Manufacturer process designation)
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping) VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
• Cache (manufacturer label)
  - 30 MB Intel Smart Cache
• Codename
  - Products formerly Alder Lake
• Marketing Status (manufacturer label)
  - Launched
• Official source
  - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/134599/intel-core-i912900k-processor-30m-cache-up-to-5-20-ghz/specifications.html
• Use Conditions
  - PC/Client/Tablet, Workstation
• Verification scope
  - Explicit manufacturer fields refreshed; other original historical fields retained, not all reverified. Partial composite conflicts are preserved.
• Verified on
  - 2026-09-30