Xeon E3-1245 v6 vs Core i7-3970X
Xeon E3-1245 v6
Core i7-3970X
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 Xeon E3-1245 v6 is positioned at rank 495 and the Core i7-3970X is on rank 1020, so the Xeon E3-1245 v6 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1245 v6
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3970X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1245 v6 | Core i7-3970X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1245 v6 | Core i7-3970X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 Xeon E3-1245 v6 and Core i7-3970X
Xeon E3-1245 v6
The Xeon E3-1245 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): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 8,711 points. Launch price was $284.
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 Xeon E3-1245 v6 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 4.1 GHz on the Xeon E3-1245 v6 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-3970X — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1245 v6 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1245 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3970X uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1245 v6 scores 8,711 against the Core i7-3970X's 8,554 — a 1.8% lead for the Xeon E3-1245 v6. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1245 v6 vs 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-3970X.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v6 | Core i7-3970X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+2% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 15 MB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,711+2% | 8,554 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 742 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1245 v6 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3970X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v6 | Core i7-3970X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1245 v6) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3970X). Primary use case: Core i7-3970X targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3970X rivals FX-9590.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v6 | Core i7-3970X |
|---|---|---|
| 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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