Core i7-3770 vs Core i7-4960HQ

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 i7-3770

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $294 MSRP, while Core i7-4960HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-4960HQ

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,370 vs 6,419).

Core i7-3770

2012

Core i7-4960HQ

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $294 MSRP, while Core i7-4960HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,370 vs 6,419).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-3770 better than Core i7-4960HQ?

Yes. Core i7-3770 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-3770 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 i7-3770 is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-3770 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-3770 is at an unclear MSRP at $294 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-4960HQ is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i7-3770 Benchmark Check

Core i7-4960HQ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-3770	Core i7-4960HQ
1080p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	142 FPS	142 FPS
high	111 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	139 FPS
medium	120 FPS	118 FPS
high	93 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	66 FPS
medium	60 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-3770 Open Core i7-4960HQ

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-3770	Core i7-4960HQ
1080p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	129 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	149 FPS	145 FPS
high	136 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	113 FPS
4K
low	134 FPS	131 FPS
medium	121 FPS	115 FPS
high	100 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	70 FPS

Open Core i7-3770 Open Core i7-4960HQ

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-3770	Core i7-4960HQ
1080p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS

Open Core i7-3770 Open Core i7-4960HQ

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-3770	Core i7-4960HQ
1080p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	160 FPS	159 FPS
medium	160 FPS	159 FPS
high	160 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	160 FPS	159 FPS

Open Core i7-3770 Open Core i7-4960HQ

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-3770 and Core i7-4960HQ

Core i7-3770

The Core i7-3770 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,419 points. Launch price was $294.

Core i7-4960HQ

The Core i7-4960HQ 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 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: 6,370 points. Launch price was $657.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-3770 and Core i7-4960HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3770 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-4960HQ — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-3770 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-3770 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4960HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3770 scores 6,419 against the Core i7-4960HQ's 6,370 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-3770. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-3770	Core i7-4960HQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+3%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+31%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Crystalwell (2013−2014)
PassMark	6,419	6,370

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-3770 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4960HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.