Core i7-3970X vs Xeon E3-1240 v6
Core i7-3970X
Xeon E3-1240 v6
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-3970X is positioned at rank 1020 and the Xeon E3-1240 v6 is on rank 494, so the Xeon E3-1240 v6 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3970X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1240 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3970X | Xeon E3-1240 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3970X | Xeon E3-1240 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ 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 and Xeon E3-1240 v6
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.
Xeon E3-1240 v6
The Xeon E3-1240 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 8,731 points. Launch price was $272.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3970X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1240 v6 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-3970X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-3970X versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 v6 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1240 v6 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-3970X uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1240 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3970X scores 8,554 against the Xeon E3-1240 v6's 8,731 — a 2% lead for the Xeon E3-1240 v6. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3970X vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1240 v6.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X | Xeon E3-1240 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.1 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 8,554 | 8,731+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 742 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3970X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1240 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X | Xeon E3-1240 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| 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) / not specified (Xeon E3-1240 v6). Primary use case: Core i7-3970X targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3970X rivals FX-9590.
| Feature | Core i7-3970X | Xeon E3-1240 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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