Core i7-980 vs Core i3-8350K
Core i7-980
Core i3-8350K
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 i7-980 is positioned at rank 966 and the Core i3-8350K is on rank 629, so the Core i3-8350K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8350K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+398%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 Core i3-8350K
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.
Core i3-8350K
The Core i3-8350K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,911 points. Launch price was $168.
Processing Power
The Core i7-980 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-8350K 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 4 GHz on the Core i3-8350K — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-8350K (base: 3.33 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i7-980 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8350K uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980 scores 6,890 against the Core i3-8350K's 6,911 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-8350K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-8350K.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 4 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,890 | 6,911 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-980 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8350K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-980 launched at $583 MSRP, while the Core i3-8350K debuted at $250. At current prices ($50 vs $250), the Core i7-980 is $200 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-980 delivers 137.8 pts/$ vs 27.6 pts/$ for the Core i3-8350K — making the Core i7-980 the 133.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Core i3-8350K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $583 | $250-57% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-80% | $250 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.8+399% | 27.6 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2017 |
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