Intel Core i7-4980HQ vs Intel Core i7-2960XM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-4980HQ and Intel Core i7-2960XM processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps).

Intel Core i7-4980HQ

Intel Core i7-2960XM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4980HQ

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Around 8% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 17% lower typical power consumption: 47 Watt vs 55 Watt
Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2168 vs 1594
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6540 vs 4727
Around 50% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 896 vs 598
Around 54% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3199 vs 2083

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	21 July 2014 vs 3 September 2011
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	47 Watt vs 55 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2168 vs 1594
PassMark - CPU mark	6540 vs 4727
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	896 vs 598
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3199 vs 2083

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2960XM

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 6 MB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-4980HQ
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2960XM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2168

1594

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6540

4727

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

896

598

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3199

2083

Name	Intel Core i7-4980HQ	Intel Core i7-2960XM
PassMark - Single thread mark	2168	1594
PassMark - CPU mark	6540	4727
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	896	598
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3199	2083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.922
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	86.645
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.626
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.089
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.346
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	1607
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	1607

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-4980HQ	Intel Core i7-2960XM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Crystal Well	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	21 July 2014	3 September 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$623	$1,096
Place in performance rating	1918	1928
Processor Number	i7-4980HQ	i7-2960XM
Series	4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Price now		$409.95
Value for money (0-100)		5.19
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.80 GHz	2.70 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	260 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	256 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	1 MB	1024 KB
L3 cache	6 MB	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	100 °C
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	8	8
Transistor count	1700 Million	995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3L 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0xD26
Graphics base frequency	200 MHz	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.30 GHz	1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.3 GHz	1.3 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	2 GB
Processor graphics	Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	2
VGA
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
CRT
SDVO
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	2880x1800@60Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	11.2/12
OpenGL	4.3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 32mm x 1.65mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA998)
Sockets supported	FCBGA1364	FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	47 Watt	55 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16 or 2x8 or 1x8 2x4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Anti-Theft technology
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
4G WiMAX Wireless
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® My WiFi technology
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)