CPU
GPU
Core i7-6970HQ
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
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. The Core i7-6970HQ is positioned at rank #486 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 i7-6970HQ
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6970HQ | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6970HQ | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) |
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 i7-6970HQ and Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-6970HQ
The Core i7-6970HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,632 points. Launch price was $623.
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 4,633 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6970HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-6970HQ has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-6970HQ versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-6970HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-6970HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses Picasso (2019−2022) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6970HQ scores 4,632 against the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE's 4,633 — a 0% lead for the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-6970HQ vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE.
| Feature | Core i7-6970HQ | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Picasso (2019−2022) |
| PassMark | 4,632 | 4,633 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6970HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6970HQ | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-6970HQ requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-6970HQ | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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