Intel Core i7-980X vs Intel Pentium G6950

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-980X and Intel Pentium G6950 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Peripherals. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

Intel Core i7-980X

Intel Pentium G6950

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
10 more threads: 12 vs 2
Around 29% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 47% higher maximum memory size: 24 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1527 vs 1109
5.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6817 vs 1238
Around 51% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 628 vs 415
4.6x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 757

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2010 vs January 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	12 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	24 GB vs 16.38 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1527 vs 1109
PassMark - CPU mark	6817 vs 1238
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628 vs 415
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462 vs 757

Reasons to consider the Intel Pentium G6950

Around 7% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 67.9°C
Around 78% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 130 Watt

Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 67.9°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 130 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-980X
CPU 2: Intel Pentium G6950

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1527

1109

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6817

1238

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

628

415

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3462

757

Name	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Pentium G6950
PassMark - Single thread mark	1527	1109
PassMark - CPU mark	6817	1238
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628	415
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462	757
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Pentium G6950
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Clarkdale
Launch date	March 2010	January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$959	$60
Place in performance rating	2573	2574
Price now	$218.99	$39.99
Processor Number	i7-980X	G6950
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Pentium® Processor
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	11.82	13.69
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz	2.80 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	239 mm2	81 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz	2.8 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12	2
Transistor count	1170 million	382 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	3	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	17 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066	DDR3 1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	73 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		533 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics		Integrated
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8