Intel Core i7-870 vs Intel Core i7-12700K

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Core i7-870 or Intel Core i7-870 – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i7-870 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 8 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2010 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-870, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1156 socket.
The Intel Core i7-12700K features 12 processor cores and has the capability to manage 20 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q4/2021 and belongs to the 12 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-12700K, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1700 socket.
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Core i7-870 Name Intel Core i7-12700K
Intel Core i7 Family Intel Core i7
1 Generation 12
Intel Core i7 800 Group Intel Core i 12000
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-870 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-870 is 2.93 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 3.6 GHz.
The Intel Core i7-12700K has 12 CPU cores and can calculate 20 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the A-Core is 3.6 GHz.
The number of CPU cores greatly affects the speed of the processor and is an important performance indicator.
Processors with hybrid (big.LITTLE) architecture strike a balance between performance and power efficiency, making them ideal for mobile devices.
3.6 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) None
None None 5.0 GHz
None None 2.7 GHz
None None 3.6 GHz
None None 4x Gracemont
None None 8x Golden Cove
No Overclocking Yes
normal Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
2.93 GHz Frequency None
None None 3.8 GHz
8 Threads 20
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
4 CPU Cores 12
4x Cores None
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i7-870 does not have integrated graphics.
The Intel Core i7-12700K has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i7-12700K uses the Intel UHD Graphics 770, which has 256 texture shaders
and 32 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
-- GPU frequency 0.3 GHz
-- Release date Q4/2021
-- Direct X 12
GPU name Intel UHD Graphics 770
-- Technology 10 nm
-- Max. displays --
-- Shaders 256
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 64.0 GB
-- Execution units 32
-- Generation 11
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.5 GHz
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A 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.
-- AVC Decode / Encode
-- VC-1 Decode
-- VP9 Decode / Encode
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
-- h264 Decode / Encode
-- VP8 Decode / Encode
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
-- JPEG Decode / Encode
-- AV1 Decode
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 16.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 128.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
2 Memory channels 2
16.0 GB Max. Memory 128.0 GB
pci PCIe pci
No AES-NI Yes
No ECC Yes
21.3 GB/s Bandwidth 76.8 GB/s
DDR3-1333 Memory type DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 95 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 125 W watts.
-- Tjunction max 100 °C
None TDP (PL2) 190 W
95 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 125 W
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-870 is manufactured using a 45 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 8.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i7-12700K is manufactured using a 10 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 25.0 MB cache.
Q2/2010 Release date Q4/2021
-- Part Number BX8071512700K
1.0 MB L2-Cache 12.0 MB
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
SSE4.1, SSE4.2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
Lynnfield Architecture Alder Lake S
45 nm Technology 10 nm
LGA 1156 Socket LGA 1700
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux, Windows 11
-- Release price 409 $
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
8.0 MB L3-Cache 25.0 MB
 
 

Benchmarks

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
34688
34688
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
3110
3110

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
14992
14992
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
2124
2124

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
14129
14129
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
1541
1541

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
7761
7761
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
1414
1414

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
2528
2528
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
481
481

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-12700K
12C 20T @ 3.6 GHz
1872
1872
Intel Core i7-870
4C 8T @ 2.93 GHz
574
574