Core i7 970

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i7 970

Sysbuilds Alpha Stage!

Please take all results with a big grain of salt. Sysbuilds is in alpha stage at the moment which can lead to wrong data, strange counting errors, silly results and more. This site is under active development.

Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i7 970 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

5,006 Rank: 869
Rank Name Score Visual
865 Xeon E5-2620 v4 5,014
+0.2%
866 Xeon D-1622 5,010
+0.1%
867 Core i5-7400T 5,008
+0%
868 Ryzen 5 1400 5,008
+0%
869 Core i7 970 5,006
870 Xeon D-1541 5,002
-0.1%
871 Xeon E3-1275 v3 5,001
-0.1%
872 Core i5-4570R 4,999
-0.1%
873 Core i5-7300HQ 4,997
-0.2%
874 Ryzen 7 2700U 4,997
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i7 970 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

5,044 Rank: 612
Rank Name Score Visual
608 Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U 5,048
+0.1%
609 Core i7-9850HE 5,048
+0.1%
610 Xeon E-2144G 5,047
+0.1%
611 Xeon E3-1241 v3 5,046
+0%
612 Core i7 970 5,044
613 Core i7-1068NG7 5,044
+0%
614 Xeon E3-1286 v3 5,040
-0.1%
615 Xeon E5-1620 v4 5,034
-0.2%
616 Core i7-7700 5,030
-0.3%
617 Core i7-4930K 5,030
-0.3%

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Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i7 970 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,980 Rank: 948
Rank Name Score Visual
944 Celeron G4900 4,988
+0.2%
945 Core i7-3740QM 4,988
+0.2%
946 Core i7-7500U 4,982
+0%
947 Core i5-8365U 4,980
+0%
948 Core i7 970 4,980
949 Athlon Silver 7120U 4,979
+-0%
950 Xeon Gold 5120 4,978
+-0%
951 Core i7-2700K 4,976
-0.1%
952 Core i5-7200U 4,975
-0.1%
953 Ryzen 3 2200GE 4,974
-0.1%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i7 970 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Number Crunching score not yet available.

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Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i7 970 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Data Processing score not yet available.

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Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i7 970 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Physics & Compute score not yet available.

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Core i7 970 Details

The Core i7-970 stands as a high-end desktop processor from Intel, released in 2011 as part of the Nehalem-EX architecture family. Though now over a decade old, it remains notable for its robust performance in its era, particularly in multi-threaded workloads. As of March 2026, this CPU is considered obsolete for mainstream computing, but it still holds relevance in legacy systems or for historical benchmark comparisons. With a base clock of 3.2 GHz and a turbo frequency reaching 3.46 GHz, the i7-970 delivers a balance of speed and efficiency for its time. Built on a 32 nm process, it features a 6-core, 12-thread design, leveraging Hyper-Threading technology to enhance multitasking and productivity performance.

The processor operates on the FCLGA1366 socket, which was common for Intel's enthusiast desktop platforms during the early 2010s. It supports up to 24 GB of DDR3 memory across three channels, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, a significant advantage over previous generations. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 provides basic visual processing, capable of driving up to three displays at 1250 MHz burst frequency, though it lacks the power for modern gaming or GPU-intensive applications. The TDP of 130 W reflects its high power consumption, typical of high-performance desktop CPUs from that generation.

In benchmark testing, the Core i7-970 achieves an overall score of 5006, ranking #869 among 2060 processors, with a single-core score of 4980 (#947) and a multicore score of 5044 (#612). These results place it above many modern low-power CPUs while falling behind contemporary high-end chips. It competes closely with processors like the Xeon E3-1245 v5 and Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U in multicore performance, yet trails behind newer Intel and AMD offerings in both single- and multi-core domains. The processor's strongest trait is its multicore performance, where it ranks notably higher than its single-core performance, indicating better scaling for parallel workloads.

Key features include support for Intel’s AVX2, AES-NI, and VT-x virtualization technologies, along with EIST and TXT for power management and security. Despite lacking ECC memory support, it remains a solid choice for legacy desktops and workstations requiring integrated graphics and high thread throughput. While the i7-970 is no longer suitable for modern gaming or content creation, it remains a testament to Intel’s engineering prowess in the early 2010s, serving as a capable processor for office applications, light multimedia tasks, and system maintenance in older hardware environments.
Frequently Compared

AMD Ryzen 5 4500U 9 views

AMD Athlon II X4 635 9 views

AMD Ryzen 7 7840U 8 views

AMD A4-1200 8 views

Intel Celeron 2955U 8 views

Intel Celeron N3000 8 views

Intel Celeron G1620 7 views

Intel Celeron G530 7 views

AMD EPYC 7F52 7 views

AMD Athlon II X4 600e 5 views

Intel Core i7 970

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i7 970
Model Number: i7-970
Cores: 6
Threads: 12
Base Frequency: 3200 MHz
Socket: FCLGA1366
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 130 W

Cache Specifications

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3 800/1066
Memory Channels: 3
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 3.0
PCIe Lanes: 16
PCIe Configuration: 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 4000
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1250 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX Flex Memory FMA
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