Core i7-6950X vs Ryzen 7 4980U
Core i7-6950X
Ryzen 7 4980U
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6950X
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 4980U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Ryzen 7 4980U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Ryzen 7 4980U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-6950X and Ryzen 7 4980U
Core i7-6950X
The Core i7-6950X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,580 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Ryzen 7 4980U
The Ryzen 7 4980U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,469 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6950X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 4980U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-6950X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6950X versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 4980U — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 4980U (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-6950X uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 4980U uses Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6950X scores 17,580 against the Ryzen 7 4980U's 17,469 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-6950X. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-6950X vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 4980U.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Ryzen 7 4980U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.4 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+213% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 17,580 | 17,469 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6950X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 4980U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Ryzen 7 4980U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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