Core i3-9100 vs Core i7-4980HQ

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-9100

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $122 MSRP, while Core i7-4980HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌38.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 47W.

Core i7-4980HQ

2014

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 47W instead of 65W, a 18W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9100 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,539 vs 6,586).

Core i3-9100

2019

Core i7-4980HQ

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 47W instead of 65W, a 18W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $122 MSRP, while Core i7-4980HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌38.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 47W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9100 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,539 vs 6,586).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-9100 better than Core i7-4980HQ?

Yes. Core i3-9100 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-9100 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-9100 is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-9100 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-9100 is at an unclear MSRP at $122 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (54.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-9100 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-9100 Benchmark Check

Core i7-4980HQ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-9100	Core i7-4980HQ
1080p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	159 FPS	143 FPS
high	125 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	165 FPS	141 FPS
medium	136 FPS	119 FPS
high	106 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	66 FPS
medium	62 FPS	59 FPS
high	48 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i3-9100 Open Core i7-4980HQ

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-9100	Core i7-4980HQ
1080p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	129 FPS
1440p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	145 FPS
high	165 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	161 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	131 FPS
medium	165 FPS	115 FPS
high	144 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	70 FPS

Open Core i3-9100 Open Core i7-4980HQ

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-9100	Core i7-4980HQ
1080p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	163 FPS
1440p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	163 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i3-9100 Open Core i7-4980HQ

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-9100	Core i7-4980HQ
1080p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	163 FPS
1440p
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	163 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	163 FPS
medium	165 FPS	163 FPS
high	165 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i3-9100 Open Core i7-4980HQ

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-9100 and Core i7-4980HQ

Core i3-9100

The Core i3-9100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,586 points. Launch price was $122.

Core i7-4980HQ

The Core i7-4980HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,539 points. Launch price was $623.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-9100 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-4980HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-9100 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4980HQ — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-9100 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9100 scores 6,586 against the Core i7-4980HQ's 6,539 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-9100. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4980HQ.

Feature	Core i3-9100	Core i7-4980HQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+5%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+29%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Crystalwell (2013−2014)
PassMark	6,586	6,539

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-9100 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.