Intel Core i5-5675R vs Intel Core i7-980 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually clear-cut split: the Intel Core i7-980 wins every single recorded test, with six wins and zero for the Core i5-5675R. This is not a case of one chip taking multi-threaded workloads while the other reclaims single-threaded ground. The i7-980 leads in both categories across all three Cinebench versions.

The i7-980's advantage is most pronounced in multi-core rendering, where its six cores and twelve threads deliver scores of 589 in Cinebench R15, 2458 in R20, and 5853 in R23. The i5-5675R, with four cores and four threads, trails substantially in each: 476, 1987, and 4733 respectively. The consistent 23.7 percent delta across all three multi-core tests indicates a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. The i7-980 scores 83 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 346 in R20, and 826 in R23. The i5-5675R manages 67, 280, and 668. The deltas here are 23.9, 23.6, and 23.7 percent, nearly identical to the multi-core margins. This uniformity suggests the i7-980's higher base clock of 3.33 GHz versus 3.10 GHz, combined with its older Westmere architecture, still yields a meaningful per-thread advantage.

For use-case planning, the data points to one conclusion: any workload captured by Cinebench, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, favors the i7-980. The i5-5675R has no recorded benchmark victory to claim, so there is no scenario within these measurements where it outperforms its rival.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-980 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 589 versus 476 in R15, 2458 versus 1987 in R20, and 5853 versus 4733 in R23, each representing a 23.7 percent lead.

Q: Is the i5-5675R better in single-core performance?

A: No. The i7-980 also wins every single-core test. It scores 83 versus 67 in R15, 346 versus 280 in R20, and 826 versus 668 in R23, with deltas ranging from 23.6 to 23.9 percent.

Q: How does the i5-5675R compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The i5-5675R has an average benchmark score of 1648. It sits 0.2 percent behind the Intel Core i7-4810MQ (1651), 0.2 percent ahead of the Intel Core i7-5700HQ (1645), and 0.3 percent ahead of the AMD Opteron 6380 (1643). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H (1653) by 0.3 percent.

Q: What is the i7-980's standing among all CPUs?

A: The i7-980 sits at the 40th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 1693, which places it within 0.2 percent of the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (1690) and 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i7-3770K (1688).

Q: Does the i5-5675R have any benchmark where it records a win?

A: In the head-to-head comparison with the i7-980, the i5-5675R records zero wins across six tests. The i7-980 wins all six.

Q: What is the i5-5675R's launch MSRP?

A: The i5-5675R had a launch MSRP of $265.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-980 scores 589 against 476, a 23.7 percent advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 83 versus 67, a 23.9 percent edge. These nearly identical percentages suggest the performance gap scales uniformly across thread counts.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Multi-core results are 2458 for the i7-980 and 1987 for the i5-5675R, again a 23.7 percent difference. Single-core results are 346 versus 280, a 23.6 percent gap. The slight narrowing from 23.9 to 23.6 percent in single-core is negligible.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. The i7-980 posts 5853 in multi-core versus 4733, and 826 in single-core versus 668. Both deltas sit at 23.7 percent. The i5-5675R's additional Geekbench scores, 3738 multi-core and 1234 single-core, exist only in its own benchmark list, and no head-to-head Geekbench comparison is recorded.

The largest single margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core at 23.9 percent. The smallest is Cinebench R20 single-core at 23.6 percent. The spread between all six deltas is just 0.3 percentage points. This tight clustering indicates a fixed performance ratio between the two chips, likely driven by the combination of core count, thread count, and clock speeds. The i5-5675R's 14 nm process and newer Broadwell architecture do not translate into any workload advantage in these measurements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The i7-980 offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-5675R provides 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.33 GHz versus 3.10 GHz, though both boost to 3.60 GHz. Thermal design power differs substantially: 130 watts for the i7-980, 65 watts for the i5-5675R.

Sockets are incompatible. The i7-980 uses Intel Socket 1366, while the i5-5675R uses Intel BGA 1364. Memory buses also differ: the i7-980 supports triple-channel DDR3, the i5-5675R dual-channel DDR3. The i5-5675R lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i7-980 has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe generations differ. The i7-980 supports PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-5675R supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present only on the i5-5675R, which includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200; the i7-980 has no integrated graphics listed.

Production status diverges. The i7-980 is end-of-life, while the i5-5675R is marked as active. Release dates are far apart: the i7-980 launched on June 25, 2011, and the i5-5675R on May 14, 2015. The i5-5675R has a launch MSRP of $265, while the i7-980 has no recorded MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The die sizes differ, with the i7-980 at 239 mm² and the i5-5675R at 182 mm². Transistor counts are recorded only for the i7-980 at 1,170 million. Both processors use 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but L3 cache differs: 12 MB shared on the i7-980 versus 4 MB shared on the i5-5675R.

Architecture Differences

The i7-980 is built on Intel's Westmere architecture, specifically the Gulftown codename, fabricated on a 32 nm process at Intel's foundry. It belongs to the Core i7 (Gulftown) generation. Its 1,170 million transistors are packed into a 239 mm² die. The i7-980 has no integrated graphics and no recorded memory bandwidth figure.

The i5-5675R uses the Broadwell architecture, also with the Broadwell codename, on a 14 nm process. It belongs to the Core i5 (Broadwell) generation. The die size is 182 mm², and no transistor count is recorded. Broadwell's key architectural difference is the inclusion of Iris Pro Graphics 6200, which gives the i5-5675R a graphical capability the i7-980 entirely lacks.

Cache hierarchies differ beyond the L3 total. The i7-980's 12 MB shared L3 is three times larger than the i5-5675R's 4 MB shared L3. Both use identical per-core L1 and L2 sizes, but the i7-980's additional cores and threads allow more aggregate cache utilization.

Memory architecture reflects the generational gap. The i7-980's triple-channel DDR3 controller provides more memory channels than the i5-5675R's dual-channel setup. The i5-5675R's 29.9 GB/s bandwidth figure is recorded, and while no comparable figure exists for the i7-980, the triple-channel configuration typically offers higher theoretical throughput.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The i7-980 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-5675R uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. For systems relying on modern GPUs or NVMe storage, the i5-5675R's newer PCIe standard is a clear architectural advantage, though it does not manifest in the Cinebench results.

The 14 nm process node of the i5-5675R versus the 32 nm node of the i7-980 explains the TDP gap: 65 watts versus 130 watts. The i5-5675R achieves its performance at half the power envelope, though the i7-980 still outperforms it in every recorded test.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice for users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads: the Intel Core i7-980 wins every single recorded benchmark. Its six cores, twelve threads, and higher base clock combine for a 23.7 percent multi-core lead and a 23.7 percent single-core lead over the i5-5675R. The consistency of these margins across R15, R20, and R23 leaves no workload category in these measurements where the i5-5675R takes the lead.

Users who need integrated graphics should consider the i5-5675R, as it includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200 while the i7-980 has none. Users who require PCIe Gen 3 or a lower 65 watt TDP will also find the i5-5675R architecturally superior in those specific aspects. The i5-5675R is also an active production part with a recorded launch MSRP of $265, while the i7-980 is end-of-life with no MSRP recorded.

However, for raw compute performance as measured by Cinebench, the i7-980 is the unambiguous winner. Its average benchmark score of 1693 versus 1648 for the i5-5675R places it 2.7 percent higher overall. The i7-980's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H at 1690 and the Intel Core i7-3770K at 1688, both within 0.3 percent, while the i5-5675R's nearest rivals cluster around 1650, roughly 45 points lower.

The choice comes down to priorities. For pure processing throughput, the i7-980 is the data-backed pick. For a modern, power-efficient platform with integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3, the i5-5675R offers features the i7-980 cannot match, but it does so at a measurable performance cost in every recorded benchmark.