Core i7-4980HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U

Core i7-4980HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-4980HQ

4 / 8

6,539

+0.7%

6,494

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i7-4980HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-4980HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-4980HQ

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌213.3% higher power demand at 47W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 2500U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 2500U

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 47W, a 32W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Core i7-4980HQ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4980HQ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,494 vs 6,539).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $349 MSRP, while Core i7-4980HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-4980HQ better than Ryzen 5 2500U?

Yes. Core i7-4980HQ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-4980HQ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4980HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i7-4980HQ is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i7-4980HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $349 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 2500U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 3.1% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen 5 2500U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-4980HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Ryzen 5 2500U

The Ryzen 5 2500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 26 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,494 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-4980HQ and Ryzen 5 2500U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4980HQ versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500U — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4980HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-4980HQ uses the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4980HQ scores 6,539 against the Ryzen 5 2500U's 6,494 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-4980HQ. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4980HQ vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500U.

Feature	Core i7-4980HQ	Ryzen 5 2500U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4 GHz+11%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+40%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Crystalwell (2013−2014)	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)
PassMark	6,539	6,494
Geekbench 6 Single	—	818
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,310

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-4980HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-4980HQ	Ryzen 5 2500U
Socket	BGA1364	FP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-4980HQ) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2500U). The Ryzen 5 2500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Core i7-4980HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2500U targets Mainstream Laptop.