AMD Ryzen 7 3750H vs Intel Core i7-980 Comparison

Intel Core i7-980 and AMD Ryzen 7 3750H sit at nearly identical average benchmark scores (1693 vs 1690, a 0.2% gap), yet they achieve parity through completely different strategies. The data shows a split personality: the Ryzen 7 3750H wins three of four head-to-head tests, while the Core i7-980 wins one by a wide margin. This is not a story of one processor being "better" — it is a story of workload-dependent dominance. The Core i7-980 is an older desktop part from 2011, while the Ryzen 7 3750H is a 2019 mobile chip, and their respective strengths reflect those origins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H takes the clear majority of benchmark victories, winning three of the four head-to-head tests. Its biggest edge comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 144 against the i7-980's 83 — a 42.4% advantage. This is a massive single-threaded gap, indicating the Ryzen's newer Zen+ architecture handles lightly-threaded tasks far more efficiently. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (734 vs 589, a 19.8% lead) despite having only 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i7-980's 6 cores and 12 threads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen again prevails (971 vs 826, a 14.9% margin), confirming its consistent superiority in per-thread performance.

The Intel Core i7-980's sole victory is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 5853 against the Ryzen's 3897 — a commanding 50.2% lead. This is the outlier result: in the older R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen wins, but in the newer R23 multi-core test, the i7-980's extra cores and threads (6/12 vs 4/8) allow it to pull far ahead. This suggests that the i7-980 scales better with heavily-threaded, modern workloads that can utilize all 12 threads, while the Ryzen's advantage lies in efficiency and per-core speed. The wins break down as 1 for Intel and 3 for AMD, so the overall pattern favors the Ryzen, but the magnitude of Intel's R23 win cannot be ignored.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-980 uses the Westmere architecture, codenamed Gulftown, built on Intel's 32 nm process with 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Cache is organized as 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3. Memory support is DDR3 over a triple-channel bus, and PCIe is Gen 2. The chip is a desktop part with a 130 W TDP, uses Intel Socket 1366, and is end-of-life with a release date of 2011-06-25.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Cache is 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, and PCIe is Gen 3. The chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics, is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP, uses AMD Socket FP5, and remains in active production with a release date of 2019-01-05. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The transistor count difference is striking: the Ryzen packs 4,940 million transistors versus Intel's 1,170 million, despite having fewer cores. This reflects the integrated graphics and more modern design. The Ryzen's higher boost clock (4.00 vs 3.60 GHz) and newer process node (12 nm vs 32 nm) explain its single-core advantage, while the i7-980's higher core count and larger shared L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB) drive its multi-core win in R23.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-980 has an average benchmark score of 1693, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H scores 1690, a difference of 0.2%. Both sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Why does the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H win Cinebench R15 multi-core despite having fewer cores?

A: The Ryzen 7 3750H scores 734 in R15 multi-core versus the i7-980's 589, a 19.8% lead. This is despite having only 4 cores and 8 threads compared to the i7-980's 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen's higher boost clock (4.00 GHz vs 3.60 GHz) and newer Zen+ architecture likely compensate for its lower core count in this older test.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-980 scores 5853 versus the Ryzen's 3897, giving Intel a 50.2% advantage. The largest AMD win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 42.4% (144 vs 83).

Q: Do both chips support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-980 uses DDR3 memory over a triple-channel bus, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H uses DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H includes integrated graphics, specifically Radeon Vega 10. The Intel Core i7-980 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: How do the production statuses compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-980 is end-of-life, having been released on 2011-06-25. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is still active in production, with a release date of 2019-01-05.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-980 | AMD Ryzen 7 3750H |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Westmere | Zen+ |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 12 nm |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 239 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 10 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2011-06-25 | 2019-01-05 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test delivers the most dramatic result. The Intel Core i7-980 scores 5853, which is 50.2% higher than the Ryzen 7 3750H's 3897. This is a huge margin, driven by the i7-980's 6 cores and 12 threads against the Ryzen's 4 cores and 8 threads. In a modern, heavily-threaded workload like R23, the older Intel chip's core advantage becomes decisive, outweighing its older architecture and lower clocks.

The opposite extreme appears in Cinebench R15 single-core. Here, the Ryzen 7 3750H scores 144 versus the i7-980's 83, a 42.4% advantage. This is the largest single-core gap in the data, showing how far per-thread performance advanced between 2011 and 2019. The Ryzen's 4.00 GHz boost clock and Zen+ architecture dominate the i7-980's 3.60 GHz Westmere design in lightly-threaded tasks.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Ryzen winning again, but by a smaller margin. The Ryzen scores 734 against the i7-980's 589, a 19.8% lead. Interestingly, this contradicts the R23 multi-core result. In the older R15 test, the Ryzen's efficiency and clock speed overcome its core deficit, but in the newer R23 test, the i7-980's extra threads take over. This suggests that R23 scales better with thread count, while R15 favors per-core speed.

Cinebench R23 single-core continues the AMD trend. The Ryzen scores 971 versus the i7-980's 826, a 14.9% advantage. This is the smallest of the Ryzen's wins, but it reinforces the pattern: in every single-core test, the Ryzen leads by double digits. The i7-980's only win is R23 multi-core, but that win is so large it nearly balances the overall benchmark average.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For tasks that rely on single-threaded performance or older multi-threaded benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is the stronger choice. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 19.8%, R15 single-core by 42.4%, and R23 single-core by 14.9%. Its higher boost clock, newer 12 nm process, and larger per-core caches (96 KB L1, 512 KB L2) give it a decisive edge in per-thread throughput.

For modern, heavily-threaded workloads that scale well beyond 8 threads, the Intel Core i7-980 is the better option. Its 50.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single largest margin in the comparison, and its 6 cores and 12 threads with 12 MB of shared L3 cache provide the resources needed for parallel processing. The i7-980 also benefits from a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus, which may help in memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1693 vs 1690), placing both at the 40th percentile of all CPUs. Neither chip is a clear winner across the board. The Ryzen 7 3750H wins more tests (3 out of 4), making it the more consistent performer for typical everyday workloads. The Core i7-980 wins the test that matters most for professional rendering or scientific computing, making it a niche pick for users who know their software can use 12 threads. The choice comes down to whether the user prioritizes single-core responsiveness and efficiency (Ryzen) or raw multi-core throughput in modern benchmarks (Intel).