Core i7-980 vs Athlon Gold 3150G
Core i7-980
Athlon Gold 3150G
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 i7-980 is positioned at rank #966 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 i7-980
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 3150G
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 i7-980 and Athlon Gold 3150G
Core i7-980
The Core i7-980 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 6,890 points. Launch price was $1,109.
Athlon Gold 3150G
The Athlon Gold 3150G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 6,922 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-980 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon Gold 3150G offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-980 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 versus 3.9 GHz on the Athlon Gold 3150G — a 8% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 3150G (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-980 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon Gold 3150G uses Picasso (2019−2022) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980 scores 6,890 against the Athlon Gold 3150G's 6,922 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon Gold 3150G. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980 vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 3150G.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.5 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+200% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 12 nm-63% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Picasso (2019−2022) |
| PassMark | 6,890 | 6,922 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-980 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon Gold 3150G uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
The Athlon Gold 3150G includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-980 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-980 launched at $583 MSRP, while the Athlon Gold 3150G debuted at $100. At current prices ($50 vs $80), the Core i7-980 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-980 delivers 137.8 pts/$ vs 86.5 pts/$ for the Athlon Gold 3150G — making the Core i7-980 the 45.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Athlon Gold 3150G |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $583 | $100-83% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-38% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.8+59% | 86.5 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2020 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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