Core i7-970 vs Xeon E7340
Core i7-970
Xeon E7340
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 i7-970 is positioned at rank 1063 and the Xeon E7340 is on rank 470, so the Xeon E7340 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-970
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E7340
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) | ✅ More affordable ($132) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+119%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) | ✅ More affordable ($132) |
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 i7-970 and Xeon E7340
Core i7-970
The Core i7-970 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,547 points. Launch price was $662.
Xeon E7340
The Xeon E7340 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 6,544 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-970 is built on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-970 scores 6,547 against the Xeon E7340's 6,544 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-970. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-970 vs 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E7340.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | — |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 6,547 | 6,544 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-970 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E7340 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 24 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 36 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i7-970) / not specified (Xeon E7340). Primary use case: Core i7-970 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-970 launched at $1083 MSRP, while the Xeon E7340 debuted at $213. At current prices ($289 vs $132), the Xeon E7340 is $157 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-970 delivers 22.7 pts/$ vs 49.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E7340 — making the Xeon E7340 the 74.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Xeon E7340 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1083 | $213-80% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $289 | $132-54% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.7 | 49.6+119% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2007 |
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