
Xeon E7340 vs Core i7-970

Xeon E7340

Core i7-970
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 E7340 is positioned at rank 470 and the Core i7-970 is on rank 1063, 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 Xeon E7340
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($132) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+119%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($132) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) |
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 E7340 and Core i7-970

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.

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.
Processing Power
The Core i7-970 is built on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E7340 scores 6,544 against the Core i7-970's 6,547 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-970. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E7340 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-970.
| Feature | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | — | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB L2 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | — | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | — | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,544 | 6,547 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E7340 uses the PGA604 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-970 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA604 | LGA1366 |
| 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: not specified (Xeon E7340) / VT-x (Core i7-970). Primary use case: Core i7-970 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E7340 launched at $213 MSRP, while the Core i7-970 debuted at $1083. At current prices ($132 vs $289), the Xeon E7340 is $157 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E7340 delivers 49.6 pts/$ vs 22.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-970 — making the Xeon E7340 the 74.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E7340 | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $213-80% | $1083 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $132-54% | $289 |
| Performance per Dollar | 49.6+119% | 22.7 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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