CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8560U and Intel Core i7-970 represent two very different eras of Intel design, yet their benchmark scores land them in the same performance tier. The data shows a 4-core, 15-watt mobile processor from 2018 squaring off against a 6-core, 130-watt desktop part from 2010. Despite a 10-year gap in release dates, the comparison is surprisingly close, with the newer mobile chip edging out the older desktop processor in every single benchmark recorded. This page analyzes the head-to-head results, architectural divergences, and use-case implications derived strictly from the provided data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent. The Intel Core i7-8560U wins all six recorded tests, but the margins are incredibly slim. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the 8560U scores 568 against the 970's 562, a delta of just 1.1%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 80 for the 8560U versus 79 for the 970, a 1.3% advantage. These are not commanding victories; they are near-ties.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the trend holds. The 8560U posts a multicore score of 2369, while the 970 manages 2342, a 1.2% difference. In single-core R20, the scores are 334 and 330, respectively, again a 1.2% lead for the mobile part. The most recent test, Cinebench R23, shows the same story: the 8560U scores 5641 in multicore versus 5577 for the 970 (1.1% delta), and 796 in single-core versus 787 (1.1% delta).

What do these numbers imply? The 8560U's 4.60 GHz boost clock is likely a decisive factor, allowing it to overcome the 970's two additional physical cores. The 970's boost clock of 3.47 GHz is significantly lower, and the data suggests that raw frequency per core matters more here than core count. The 8560U wins all six tests, but with deltas that never exceed 1.3%, the performance envelope of these two processors is effectively identical for the workloads captured by Cinebench. The average benchmark score reinforces this: 1631 for the 8560U versus 1613 for the 970, a gap of about 1.1%.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two chips is vast, yet the benchmark results suggest it has been bridged by time. The 8560U is built on Whiskey Lake, a 14 nm process, while the 970 uses the Westmere architecture on a 32 nm node. The 970's die is 239 mm² and contains 1,170 million transistors, figures not listed for the 8560U. This process shrink is a key differentiator, allowing the 8560U to deliver comparable performance at a fraction of the power.

Core configuration is the most obvious difference. The 970 offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 8560U provides 4 cores and 8 threads. The 8560U compensates with a much higher boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 3.47 GHz. Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 970 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 8560U has 8 MB. The 970's larger L3 cache is a legacy advantage, yet it does not translate into benchmark wins.

Memory and platform support are entirely different. The 8560U uses a dual-channel memory bus with DDR3 or DDR4 support and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The 970 uses triple-channel DDR3 with no bandwidth figure provided. The 8560U also features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 970 is limited to PCIe Gen 2. The 8560U includes integrated UHD Graphics 620; the 970 has no integrated graphics. These differences point to the 8560U being a more modern, integrated solution, while the 970 is a pure desktop CPU from a different era.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-8560U wins everywhere. It captures all 6 head-to-head victories, with the largest margin being a 1.3% lead in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. The data shows no test where the 970 is faster. This suggests the 8560U is the better choice for both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads.

However, the data also implies a use-case split beyond raw scores. The 8560U's 15-watt TDP and integrated graphics make it suitable for mobile, power-constrained environments. The 970's 130-watt TDP and lack of integrated graphics indicate a desktop-only part requiring a discrete GPU. The 970's triple-channel memory support could be advantageous in memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks, though no benchmark data is provided to confirm this. The 8560U's newer PCIe Gen 3 support offers more modern connectivity. For a buyer today, the 8560U is the more practical choice, given its performance parity and modern features. The 970's only theoretical advantage, more cores and more L3 cache, does not materialize in the recorded benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has an average benchmark score of 1631, while the Intel Core i7-970 has an average score of 1613.

Q: What is the largest performance delta in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest delta is 1.3%, in favor of the Intel Core i7-8560U, seen in the Cinebench R15 single-core test (80 vs 79).

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-970 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-970 have integrated graphics?

A: No. The data lists no integrated graphics for the Intel Core i7-970, whereas the Intel Core i7-8560U includes UHD Graphics 620.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i7-970 has a TDP of 130 watts.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i7-970 win?

A: According to the head-to-head data, the Intel Core i7-970 does not win any of the six recorded benchmarks. The Intel Core i7-8560U wins all of them.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-8560U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-970 has a base clock of 3200.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.47 GHz. The 8560U has 4 cores and 8 threads; the 970 has 6 cores and 12 threads. TDP is a major split: 15 watts for the 8560U versus 130 watts for the 970.

Their sockets are incompatible: the 8560U uses Intel BGA 1528, while the 970 uses Intel Socket 1366. The 8560U is built on Whiskey Lake with a 14 nm process, whereas the 970 is Westmere on a 32 nm node. The 970 has a listed transistor count of 1,170 million and a die size of 239 mm²; no figures are provided for the 8560U. L3 cache differs, with 8 MB shared on the 8560U and 12 MB shared on the 970. Memory support varies: the 8560U supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the 970 supports only DDR3 with a triple-channel bus and no bandwidth figure. PCIe generation also differs: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the 8560U versus Gen 2 for the 970. The 8560U includes integrated UHD Graphics 620; the 970 has none. Their market segments are Mobile and Desktop, respectively.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner: the Intel Core i7-8560U. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average score (1631 vs 1613), and does so while consuming 15 watts versus the 970's 130 watts. The 970's advantages in core count (6 vs 4) and L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB) do not translate into any benchmark victory, likely due to the 8560U's significantly higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 3.47 GHz.

Who should pick the 8560U? Anyone needing a modern, efficient, and capable processor for a mobile platform. Its integrated graphics remove the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, and its 14 nm process makes it far more power-efficient. Who should pick the 970? The data offers no benchmark-based reason to choose it, as it loses every test. Its only potential appeal is a legacy platform with triple-channel DDR3 memory, but the performance data does not support that choice. For any workload captured in these Cinebench tests, the 8560U is the superior part. The 970's 6-core design is a historical artifact that cannot overcome the frequency and architectural efficiency of the newer mobile chip.