Athlon Gold 3150G vs Core i7-980
Athlon Gold 3150G
Core i7-980
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 3150G
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 Athlon Gold 3150G and Core i7-980
Athlon Gold 3150G
The Athlon Gold 3150G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 6,922 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-980
The Core i7-980 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 6,890 points. Launch price was $1,109.
Processing Power
The Athlon Gold 3150G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-980 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-980 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon Gold 3150G versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 — a 8% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 3150G (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Athlon Gold 3150G uses the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-980 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 3150G scores 6,922 against the Core i7-980's 6,890 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon Gold 3150G. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 3150G vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+5% | 3.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-63% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso (2019−2022) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,922 | 6,890 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Gold 3150G uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-980 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
Advanced Features
The Athlon Gold 3150G includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-980 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon Gold 3150G launched at $100 MSRP, while the Core i7-980 debuted at $583. At current prices ($80 vs $50), the Core i7-980 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Gold 3150G delivers 86.5 pts/$ vs 137.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-980 — making the Core i7-980 the 45.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 3150G | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-83% | $583 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | $50-38% |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.5 | 137.8+59% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2011 |
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