Intel Core i7-3970X | Apple A12Z Bionic | |
CPU comparisonIntel Core i7-3970X or Apple A12Z Bionic - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The Intel Core i7-3970X has 6 cores with 12 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.00 GHz. Up to 64 GB of memory is supported in 4 memory channels. The Intel Core i7-3970X was released in Q4/2012. The Apple A12Z Bionic has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.49 GHz. The CPU supports up to 6 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Apple A12Z Bionic was released in Q1/2020. |
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Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
Intel Core i 3000X (4) | CPU group | Apple A12/A12X/A12Z (3) |
3 | Generation | 12 |
Sandy Bridge E | Architecture | A12 |
Desktop / Server | Segment | Mobile |
-- | Predecessor | Apple A10X Fusion |
-- | Successor | -- |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Intel Core i7-3970X has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-3970X is 3.50 GHz (4.00 GHz) while the Apple A12Z Bionic has 8 CPU cores and 8 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple A12Z Bionic is at 2.49 GHz. |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Characteristic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
6 | Cores | 8 |
12 | Threads | 8 |
normal | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
Yes | Hyperthreading | No |
Yes | Overclocking ? | No |
3.50 GHz (4.00 GHz) | A-Core | 2.49 GHz 4x Vortex |
-- | B-Core | 1.59 GHz 4x Tempest |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor. |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Characteristic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 8 Neural cores @ 5 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsThe Intel Core i7-3970X or Apple A12Z Bionic has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple A12Z |
GPU frequency | 1.13 GHz | |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
-- | GPU Generation | 9 |
Technology | 7 nm | |
Max. displays | 1 | |
-- | Compute units | 32 |
-- | Shader | 512 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
-- | Max. GPU Memory | 6 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple A12Z |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
No | Codec AVC | Decode |
No | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
No | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeThe Intel Core i7-3970X can use up to 64 GB of memory in 4 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s. The Apple A12Z Bionic supports up to 6 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 68.2 GB/s. |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Characteristic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
DDR3-1600 | Memory | LPDDR4X-4266 |
64 GB | Max. Memory | 6 GB |
4 (Quad Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
51.2 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 68.2 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
-- | L2 Cache | 8.00 MB |
15.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
2.0 | PCIe version | -- |
40 | PCIe lanes | -- |
20.0 GB/s | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Intel Core i7-3970X is 150 W, while the Apple A12Z Bionic has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently. |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Characteristic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
150 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 15 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
-- | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Intel Core i7-3970X is manufactured in 32 nm and has 15.00 MB cache. The Apple A12Z Bionic is manufactured in 7 nm and has a 8.00 MB cache. |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Characteristic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
32 nm | Technology | 7 nm |
Monolithic | Chip design | Chiplet |
x86-64 (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX | ISA extensions | -- |
LGA 2011 | Socket | -- |
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d (C2 Stepping) | Virtualization | None |
Yes | AES-NI | No |
Windows 10, Linux | Operating systems | iOS |
Q4/2012 | Release date | Q1/2020 |
820 $ | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
@ 0.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
Apple A12Z @ 1.13 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3970X
6C 12T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Intel Core i7-3970X | Apple A12Z Bionic |
Unknown | Apple iPad Pro 2020 |