Core i7-4980HQ vs Xeon E3-1270 v2
Core i7-4980HQ
Xeon E3-1270 v2
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 i7-4980HQ is positioned at rank 417 and the Xeon E3-1270 v2 is on rank 445, so the Core i7-4980HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4980HQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1270 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4980HQ | Xeon E3-1270 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4980HQ | Xeon E3-1270 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-4980HQ and Xeon E3-1270 v2
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.
Xeon E3-1270 v2
The Xeon E3-1270 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 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): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,498 points. Launch price was $192.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-4980HQ and Xeon E3-1270 v2 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4980HQ versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270 v2 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4980HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-4980HQ uses the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1270 v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4980HQ scores 6,539 against the Xeon E3-1270 v2's 6,498 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-4980HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-4980HQ | Xeon E3-1270 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+3% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Crystalwell (2013−2014) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 6,539 | 6,498 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 672 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,032 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4980HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1270 v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4980HQ | Xeon E3-1270 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1364 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-4980HQ) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon E3-1270 v2). Primary use case: Xeon E3-1270 v2 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1270 v2 rivals Core i7-3770.
| Feature | Core i7-4980HQ | Xeon E3-1270 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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