Core i3-9320 vs Core i7-6920HQ

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 i3-9320

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $154 MSRP, while Core i7-6920HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6100% higher power demand at 62W vs 1W.

Core i7-6920HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 1W instead of 62W, a 61W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9320 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,269 vs 7,358).

Core i3-9320

2019

Core i7-6920HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 1W instead of 62W, a 61W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $154 MSRP, while Core i7-6920HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6100% higher power demand at 62W vs 1W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9320 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,269 vs 7,358).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-9320 better than Core i7-6920HQ?

Yes. Core i3-9320 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 12.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.2% 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 i3-9320 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 12.7% 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 i3-9320 is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-9320 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-9320 is at an unclear MSRP at $154 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 12.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (47.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-9320 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2015) 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 i3-9320 Benchmark Check

Core i7-6920HQ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-9320	Core i7-6920HQ
1080p
low	184 FPS	169 FPS
medium	151 FPS	136 FPS
high	121 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	147 FPS
medium	122 FPS	117 FPS
high	98 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	69 FPS
medium	74 FPS	59 FPS
high	58 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i3-9320 Open Core i7-6920HQ

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-9320	Core i7-6920HQ
1080p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	158 FPS
high	184 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	184 FPS	148 FPS
medium	184 FPS	128 FPS
high	162 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	77 FPS

Open Core i3-9320 Open Core i7-6920HQ

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-9320	Core i7-6920HQ
1080p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	182 FPS
1440p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	182 FPS
4K
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	167 FPS	182 FPS

Open Core i3-9320 Open Core i7-6920HQ

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-9320	Core i7-6920HQ
1080p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	182 FPS
1440p
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	182 FPS
4K
low	184 FPS	182 FPS
medium	184 FPS	182 FPS
high	184 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	182 FPS

Open Core i3-9320 Open Core i7-6920HQ

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-9320 and Core i7-6920HQ

Core i3-9320

The Core i3-9320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 62 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,358 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-6920HQ

The Core i7-6920HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,269 points. Launch price was $568.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-9320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-6920HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-9320 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-6920HQ — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-9320 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i3-9320 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6920HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9320 scores 7,358 against the Core i7-6920HQ's 7,269 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i3-9320. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9320 vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6920HQ.

Feature	Core i3-9320	Core i7-6920HQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+16%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+28%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB+300%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	7,358+1%	7,269

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-9320 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6920HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.