PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-1160G7

2020

Why buy it

✅+136.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $564 less on MSRP ($426 MSRP vs $990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 136.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.5 vs 8.6 PassMark/$ ($426 MSRP vs $990 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 150W, a 135W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Core i7-3970X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 15 MB).

Core i7-3970X

2012

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 12 MB).
✅900% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (742 vs 1,758).
❌Lower PassMark (8,554 vs 8,720).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($990 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
❌900% higher power demand at 150W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1160G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-1160G7

2020

Core i7-3970X

2012

Why buy it

✅+136.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $564 less on MSRP ($426 MSRP vs $990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 136.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.5 vs 8.6 PassMark/$ ($426 MSRP vs $990 MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 150W, a 135W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Core i7-3970X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 12 MB).
✅900% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 15 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (742 vs 1,758).
❌Lower PassMark (8,554 vs 8,720).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($990 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
❌900% higher power demand at 150W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1160G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-1160G7 better than Core i7-3970X?

Yes. Core i7-1160G7 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-1160G7 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-1160G7 is the better fit. You are getting 1.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-1160G7 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-1160G7 is $564 cheaper on MSRP at $426 MSRP versus $990 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 136.9% better value on MSRP (20.5 vs 8.6 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-1160G7 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-1160G7 Benchmark Check

Core i7-3970X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
1080p
low	169 FPS	169 FPS
medium	138 FPS	144 FPS
high	108 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	141 FPS
medium	119 FPS	119 FPS
high	94 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	64 FPS
medium	73 FPS	57 FPS
high	57 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-1160G7 Open Core i7-3970X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
1080p
low	170 FPS	214 FPS
medium	138 FPS	206 FPS
high	127 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	151 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	209 FPS
medium	126 FPS	181 FPS
high	118 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	136 FPS
4K
low	117 FPS	164 FPS
medium	100 FPS	144 FPS
high	86 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	95 FPS

Open Core i7-1160G7 Open Core i7-3970X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
1080p
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS
1440p
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS
4K
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS

Open Core i7-1160G7 Open Core i7-3970X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
1080p
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS
1440p
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS
4K
low	218 FPS	214 FPS
medium	218 FPS	214 FPS
high	218 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	214 FPS

Open Core i7-1160G7 Open Core i7-3970X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1160G7 and Core i7-3970X

Core i7-1160G7

The Core i7-1160G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1598. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,720 points. Launch price was $426.

Core i7-3970X

The Core i7-3970X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,554 points. Launch price was $593.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-1160G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-3970X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-3970X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i7-1160G7 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-3970X — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-1160G7 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-1160G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i7-3970X uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1160G7 scores 8,720 against the Core i7-3970X's 8,554 — a 1.9% lead for the Core i7-1160G7. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,758 vs 742, a 81.3% lead for the Core i7-1160G7 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1160G7 vs 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3970X.

Feature	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+10%	4 GHz
Base Clock	1.2 GHz	3.5 GHz+192%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	15 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin-69%	32 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-UP4 (2020−2021)	Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)
PassMark	8,720+2%	8,554
Geekbench 6 Single	1,758+137%	742

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1160G7 uses the FCBGA1598 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-3970X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR4x-4267 on the Core i7-1160G7 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i7-3970X — the Core i7-1160G7 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-3970X supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-1160G7) vs 4 (Core i7-3970X). PCIe lanes: 4 (Core i7-1160G7) vs 40 (Core i7-3970X) — the Core i7-3970X offers 36 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Tiger Lake-UP3 (Core i7-1160G7) and X79 (Core i7-3970X).

Feature	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
Socket	FCBGA1598	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+100%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR4x-4267+33%	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	64 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	4	40+900%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-3970X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-1160G7 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i7-1160G7 includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 96EU), while the Core i7-3970X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1160G7 targets Premium Ultrabook/Tablet, Core i7-3970X targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-1160G7 rivals Ryzen 7 4800U; Core i7-3970X rivals FX-9590.

Feature	Core i7-1160G7	Core i7-3970X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Iris Xe Graphics 96EU	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Premium Ultrabook/Tablet	HEDT Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-1160G7 launched at $426 MSRP, while the Core i7-3970X debuted at $990. On MSRP ($426 vs $990), the Core i7-1160G7 is $564 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-1160G7 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 8.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-3970X — making the Core i7-1160G7 the 81.3% better value option.