Core i7-980 vs Ryzen 7 2700U

Core i7-980 vs Ryzen 7 2700U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-980

6 / 12

6,890

+0.6%

6,850

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i7-980 vs Ryzen 7 2700U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-980 vs Ryzen 7 2700U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-980

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $583 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 2700U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌766.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 15W.

Ryzen 7 2700U

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 130W, a 115W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-980 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,850 vs 6,890).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-980 better than Ryzen 7 2700U?

Yes. Core i7-980 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-980 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-980 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-980 is the better buy right now. Core i7-980 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $583 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (11.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 2700U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-980 vs Ryzen 7 2700U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Ryzen 7 2700U

The Ryzen 7 2700U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 26 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 6,850 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-980 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 2700U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-980 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen 7 2700U — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 2700U (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-980 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 2700U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980 scores 6,890 against the Ryzen 7 2700U's 6,850 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-980. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 2700U.

Feature	Core i7-980	Ryzen 7 2700U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.33 GHz+51%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+200%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Gulftown (2010−2011)	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)
PassMark	6,890	6,850

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-980 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 2700U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.