Ryzen 5 3450U vs Core i7-4980HQ

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Ryzen 5 3450U

4 / 8

6,550

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i7-4980HQ

4 / 8

6,539

0.0%

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4980HQ

#125

Core i7-13700H

MSRP: $502|Avg: N/A

100%

#405

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

561%

#406

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

553%

#407

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

507%

#408

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

505%

#409

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

500%

#411

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

483%

#412

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

463%

#413

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

463%

#414

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

450%

#417

Core i7-4980HQ

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#421

Core i5-9400H

MSRP: $182|Avg: N/A

99%

#426

Celeron 2981U

MSRP: $137|Avg: N/A

99%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Ryzen 5 3450U (2020) utilizes 12 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Ryzen 5 3450U	Core i7-4980HQ
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-4980HQ (2014) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Ryzen 5 3450U	Core i7-4980HQ
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 5 3450U Benchmark Check

Core i7-4980HQ Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3450U and Core i7-4980HQ

Ryzen 5 3450U

The Ryzen 5 3450U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,550 points. Launch price was $149.

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

Both the Ryzen 5 3450U and Core i7-4980HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4980HQ — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-4980HQ (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3450U scores 6,550 against the Core i7-4980HQ's 6,539 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 3450U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4980HQ.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3450U	Core i7-4980HQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.8 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	4 MB	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	256K (per core)
Process	12 nm-45%	22 nm
Architecture	Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020)	Crystalwell (2013−2014)
PassMark	6,550	6,539

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4980HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.