Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition vs Ryzen 5 4680U
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Ryzen 5 4680U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is positioned at rank #943 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Ryzen 5 4680U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Ryzen 5 4680U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Ryzen 5 4680U
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Max frequency: 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. L2 cache: 1,536 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 12,900 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 5 4680U
The Ryzen 5 4680U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,959 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition and Ryzen 5 4680U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4680U — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 4680U. The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4680U uses Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition scores 12,900 against the Ryzen 5 4680U's 12,959 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 4680U. L3 cache: 15 MB on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4680U.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Ryzen 5 4680U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1,536 kB+200% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 12,900 | 12,959 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 742 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses the FCLGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 4680U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Ryzen 5 4680U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition) / not specified (Ryzen 5 4680U). Primary use case: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition rivals FX-9590.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Ryzen 5 4680U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | HEDT Desktop | — |
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