Core i7-970 vs Core i7-4980HQ
Core i7-970
Core i7-4980HQ
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 i7-970 is positioned at rank 1063 and the Core i7-4980HQ is on rank 417, 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 i7-970
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4980HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-970 | Core i7-4980HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-970 | Core i7-4980HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) | ✅ 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 i7-970 and Core i7-4980HQ
Core i7-970
The Core i7-970 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,547 points. Launch price was $662.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i7-970 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-4980HQ offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-970 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4980HQ — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4980HQ (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-970 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-970 scores 6,547 against the Core i7-4980HQ's 6,539 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-970. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-970 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4980HQ.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Core i7-4980HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz | 4 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+14% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Crystalwell (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,547 | 6,539 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-970 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Core i7-4980HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | BGA1364 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 24 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 36 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i7-970) / not specified (Core i7-4980HQ). Primary use case: Core i7-970 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-970 | Core i7-4980HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-970 and Core i7-4980HQ
