Ryzen 5 4680U vs Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Ryzen 5 4680U
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 4680U | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) / 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 4680U | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
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 Ryzen 5 4680U and Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Ryzen 5 4680U
The Ryzen 5 4680U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,959 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Max frequency: 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. L2 cache: 1,536 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 12,900 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 4680U and Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4680U versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 4680U. The Ryzen 5 4680U uses the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 4680U scores 12,959 against the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition's 12,900 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 4680U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4680U vs 15 MB on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4680U | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 15 MB+88% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1,536 kB+200% |
| Process | 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 12,959 | 12,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 742 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 4680U uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses FCLGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4680U | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | FCLGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 4680U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition). Primary use case: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition rivals FX-9590.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4680U | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | HEDT Desktop |
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