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Specdle

Core i7 3970X

Intel desktop processor · Core i 3rd gen · launched November 2012

Launch price
$999
≈ $1,440 in 2026 dollars
Cores / threads
6 / 12
15 MB L3 cache
Rated power
150 W

Check the price on AmazonAffiliate link. Street prices move; the figures on this page are launch prices.

Launch price in today's dollars

The Core i7 3970X launched at $999 in 2012. Adjusted with the U.S. Consumer Price Index, that is about $1,440 in 2026 dollars (7-month average), a 44% rise over 14 years.

Method: launch price × (CPI 2026 average ÷ CPI 2012 average), calendar-year averages of BLS series CPIAUCSL. 2026 covers 7 months so far.

Specifications

VendorIntel
SeriesCore i 3rd gen
LaunchedNovember 2012
Launch price$999 (1,000-unit price)
SocketLGA 2011
Cores / threads6 / 12
Base clock3.5 GHz
Boost clock4 GHz
L3 cache15 MB
Rated power150 W (TDP)
Tier7-series

The Intel 7-series over time

Intel desktop processors in the same tier around this one, oldest first, re-releases left out. Prices in launch dollars and in 2026 dollars; scores are Blender 4.x medians where they exist.

PartYearLaunch priceIn 2026 $Blender
Core i7 2700K2011$332$48836
Core i7 3930K2011$583$85865
Core i7 3960X2011$999$1,470—
Core i7 38202012$294$42440
Core i7 37702012$305$44045
Core i7 3770K2012$342$49347
Core i7 3770S2012$305$440—
Core i7 3770T2012$294$424—
Core i7 3970X2012$999$1,440—
Core i7 4765T2013$303$430—
Core i7 47702013$312$44359
Core i7 4770K2013$350$49764
Core i7 4770R2013———
Core i7 4770S2013$305$433—
Core i7 4770T2013$303$430—
Core i7 47712013$320$454—

Compare with

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