Core i7-4960HQ vs Ryzen 3 1200
Core i7-4960HQ
Ryzen 3 1200
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. The Core i7-4960HQ is positioned at rank 72 and the Ryzen 3 1200 is on rank 366, so the Core i7-4960HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4960HQ
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 1200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4960HQ | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4960HQ | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 Core i7-4960HQ and Ryzen 3 1200
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.
Ryzen 3 1200
The Ryzen 3 1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,407 points. Launch price was $109.
Processing Power
The Core i7-4960HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 3 1200's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-4960HQ versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 1200 — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-4960HQ (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-4960HQ uses the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 3 1200 uses Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4960HQ scores 6,370 against the Ryzen 3 1200's 6,407 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 3 1200. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-4960HQ | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+12% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Crystalwell (2013−2014) | Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) |
| PassMark | 6,370 | 6,407 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,013 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4960HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 1200 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4960HQ | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1364 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-4960HQ) / AMD-V (Ryzen 3 1200). Primary use case: Ryzen 3 1200 targets Budget.
| Feature | Core i7-4960HQ | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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