Intel Core i7-5850HQ vs Intel Core i7-980 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-980 and Intel Core i7-5850HQ are separated by four years of architecture evolution, yet their benchmark results place them in a statistical dead heat. The data shows the i7-980, a six-core desktop part from the Westmere generation, edges out the quad-core Broadwell-H i7-5850HQ in every single Cinebench test, but the margins are consistently razor-thin. The overall average benchmark scores are 1693 for the i7-980 and 1688 for the i7-5850HQ, a difference of only 0.3 percent. Both processors sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their nearest rival lists are nearly interchangeable, featuring the same AMD Ryzen 7 3750H and Intel Core i7-3770K.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-980 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the largest victory is a mere 1.2 percent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-980 scores 589 against the i7-5850HQ's 588, a 0.2 percent edge. The single-core R15 test shows the i7-980 ahead by a slightly larger margin: 83 versus 82, or 1.2 percent. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2458 for the i7-980 and 2451 for the i7-5850HQ, a 0.3 percent gap, while single-core scores are 346 and 345, again a 0.3 percent difference. The Cinebench R23 results follow the same pattern: the i7-980 scores 5853 multi-core and 826 single-core, while the i7-5850HQ scores 5836 and 823, respectively, yielding deltas of 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent.

What is remarkable here is not the i7-980's sweep, but the near-total parity. The i7-980 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-5850HQ has only 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite a 50 percent core advantage, the older chip's multi-core lead never exceeds 17 points in any test. This indicates that the i7-5850HQ's newer architecture delivers significantly more work per clock per core. In the R15 multi-core test, the i7-980's 0.2 percent win is well within run-to-run variance, but the consistency of the i7-980's lead across all six tests suggests it holds a genuine, if minuscule, performance edge. The single-core results are even closer, with the i7-980's best margin of 1.2 percent in R15 shrinking to 0.3-0.4 percent in R20 and R23.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct design philosophies from different eras. The i7-980 uses the Westmere architecture on a 32 nm process, with the Gulftown codename, and contains 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. It is a desktop part built for Intel Socket 1366. The i7-5850HQ, by contrast, uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process, with the Broadwell-H codename, and has a smaller 182 mm² die; its transistor count is not listed in the data. The i7-5850HQ is a mobile-oriented part on Intel BGA 1364, though its market segment is listed as Desktop.

Core counts differ substantially: the i7-980 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-5850HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. Both have identical L1 cache at 64 KB per core and identical L2 cache at 256 KB per core. The L3 cache, however, is a major divider: the i7-980 has 12 MB shared, while the i7-5850HQ has only 6 MB shared. The base clock of the i7-980 is 3.33 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the i7-5850HQ, but both boost to the same 3.60 GHz. The i7-980 has a 130 W TDP, while the i7-5850HQ sips just 47 W, reflecting the efficiency gains of the newer 14 nm node.

Memory support also diverges. Both use DDR3, but the i7-980 runs triple-channel memory while the i7-5850HQ runs dual-channel. The i7-5850HQ lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i7-980 has no bandwidth figure in the data. The i7-980 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i7-5850HQ uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-5850HQ also integrates Iris Pro Graphics 6200, whereas the i7-980 has no integrated graphics listed. The i7-980's six cores and larger 12 MB L3 cache are its primary structural advantages, while the i7-5850HQ counters with a denser process, higher per-core efficiency, and a faster PCIe generation.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-980 wins all six benchmark comparisons, making it the clear choice for raw Cinebench performance. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration and 12 MB L3 cache give it a structural edge in multi-threaded workloads, as reflected in its multi-core wins across R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin in these tests is 0.3 percent, but the win is consistent. For single-threaded performance, the i7-980 also leads, with its 3.33 GHz base clock providing a higher floor than the i7-5850HQ's 2.70 GHz, even though both boost to 3.60 GHz.

The i7-5850HQ, despite losing every benchmark, has clear application advantages that the data supports. Its 47 W TDP versus 130 W makes it dramatically more power-efficient, a critical factor for compact or thermally constrained systems. It also brings integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200, allowing a system to operate without a discrete GPU, whereas the i7-980 requires a separate graphics card. The i7-5850HQ's PCIe Gen 3 support offers double the bandwidth of the i7-980's Gen 2 for compatible devices. For workloads that are not CPU-bound—such as light gaming, media playback, or basic productivity—the i7-5850HQ's integrated graphics and lower power draw may deliver a more practical overall experience, even if the CPU benchmarks favor the i7-980.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-980 has an average benchmark score of 1693, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ scores 1688, a difference of 0.3 percent.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in any head-to-head test?

A: The largest delta is 1.2 percent, seen in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-980 scores 83 versus the i7-5850HQ's 82.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The i7-980 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-5850HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which chip supports faster PCIe?

A: The i7-5850HQ supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-980 supports PCIe Gen 2.

Q: Is there a difference in integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i7-5850HQ includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i7-980 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: Do both processors have the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both the i7-980 and the i7-5850HQ boost to 3.60 GHz, but their base clocks differ at 3.33 GHz and 2.70 GHz, respectively.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core i7-980 and Intel Core i7-5850HQ:

• Cores: 6 (i7-980) vs 4 (i7-5850HQ)
• Threads: 12 (i7-980) vs 8 (i7-5850HQ)
• Base Clock: 3.33 GHz (i7-980) vs 2.70 GHz (i7-5850HQ)
• TDP: 130 W (i7-980) vs 47 W (i7-5850HQ)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1366 (i7-980) vs Intel BGA 1364 (i7-5850HQ)
• Architecture: Westmere (i7-980) vs Broadwell (i7-5850HQ)
• Codename: Gulftown (i7-980) vs Broadwell-H (i7-5850HQ)
• Process Node: 32 nm (i7-980) vs 14 nm (i7-5850HQ)
• Transistors: 1,170 million (i7-980) vs not listed (i7-5850HQ)
• Die Size: 239 mm² (i7-980) vs 182 mm² (i7-5850HQ)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared (i7-980) vs 6 MB shared (i7-5850HQ)
• Memory Bus: Triple-channel (i7-980) vs Dual-channel (i7-5850HQ)
• Memory Bandwidth: not listed (i7-980) vs 29.9 GB/s (i7-5850HQ)
• PCIe: Gen 2 (i7-980) vs Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) (i7-5850HQ)
• Integrated Graphics: none (i7-980) vs Iris Pro Graphics 6200 (i7-5850HQ)
• Release Date: 2011-06-25 (i7-980) vs 2015-06-01 (i7-5850HQ)
• Launch MSRP: not listed (i7-980) vs $434 (i7-5850HQ)
• Part Number: SLBYU (i7-980) vs SR2BH (i7-5850HQ)

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but counterintuitive picture. The Intel Core i7-980 wins every benchmark, yet the margins are so small that the i7-5850HQ's architectural advantages make it the more compelling part for most real-world scenarios. The i7-980's six cores and 12 MB of L3 cache give it a theoretical multi-threaded advantage, and the benchmark results confirm a real, if narrow, lead: 589 versus 588 in R15 multi-core, 2458 versus 2451 in R20 multi-core, and 5853 versus 5836 in R23 multi-core. Anyone seeking the absolute highest Cinebench score should choose the i7-980.

The i7-5850HQ, however, achieves comparable results with only four cores and eight threads, on a 14 nm process that cuts TDP from 130 W to 47 W. It also brings integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3, and a faster memory bandwidth figure of 29.9 GB/s. For a user building a compact desktop or a system where power draw and heat matter, the i7-5850HQ delivers 99.7 percent of the i7-980's average performance at roughly one-third the power budget. The i7-980's performance lead is real but negligible, while the i7-5850HQ's efficiency and feature set represent a more substantial practical advantage. The i7-980 is the pick for pure CPU throughput; the i7-5850HQ is the pick for balanced system design.