Core i7-980X

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i7-980X

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i7-980X based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,583 Rank: 1205
Rank Name Score Visual
1201 Pentium Silver N6005 4,587
+0.1%
1202 Xeon X5470 4,586
+0.1%
1203 Pentium G3220 4,586
+0.1%
1204 FX-4130 4,585
+0%
1205 Core i7-980X 4,583
1206 Core i7-975 4,581
+-0%
1207 Core i7-2675QM 4,580
-0.1%
1208 Pentium G3240 4,580
-0.1%
1209 Athlon PRO 3045B 4,580
-0.1%
1210 FX-6300 4,579
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i7-980X based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,683 Rank: 988
Rank Name Score Visual
984 Core i5-3470S 4,686
+0.1%
985 Core i5-4440 4,686
+0.1%
986 Xeon X5670 4,685
+0%
987 Xeon W3570 4,683
+0%
988 Core i7-980X 4,683
989 Core i5-3470 4,681
+-0%
990 Xeon E7-4830 4,680
-0.1%
991 Xeon E3-1270 v3 4,680
-0.1%
992 Core i5-3550 4,679
-0.1%
993 Xeon E3-1245 4,679
-0.1%

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Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i7-980X based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,516 Rank: 1278
Rank Name Score Visual
1274 Core i3 540 4,518
+0%
1275 Core i5 650 4,517
+0%
1276 Celeron G1820 4,517
+0%
1277 FX-6300 4,516
+0%
1278 Core i7-980X 4,516
1279 A8-7670K 4,512
-0.1%
1280 Core i5-680 4,512
-0.1%
1281 Pentium G2020 4,511
-0.1%
1282 Core i5-4250U 4,511
-0.1%
1283 Xeon E5-2630L v2 4,511
-0.1%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i7-980X based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,703 Rank: 665
Rank Name Score Visual
661 Ryzen 3 5300U 4,704
+0%
662 Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G 4,703
+0%
663 Xeon E3-1271 v3 4,703
+0%
664 Xeon E5-2430 v2 4,703
+0%
665 Core i7-980X 4,703
666 Xeon E3-1230 v6 4,702
+-0%
667 Xeon X5680 4,702
+-0%
668 Core i7-6700 4,701
+-0%
669 Core i5-1035G7 4,700
-0.1%
670 Xeon E3-1245 v5 4,700
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i7-980X based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,722 Rank: 640
Rank Name Score Visual
636 Xeon E3-1275 v5 4,724
+0%
637 Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 4,723
+0%
638 Core i5-10300H 4,723
+0%
639 Ryzen 7 2700U 4,722
+0%
640 Core i7-980X 4,722
641 Xeon E3-1260L v5 4,721
+-0%
642 Core i5-10400H 4,721
+-0%
643 Ryzen 5 3500U 4,720
+-0%
644 Xeon D-1531 4,720
+-0%
645 Core i7-8709G 4,720
+-0%

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Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i7-980X based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,654 Rank: 838
Rank Name Score Visual
834 Xeon E5-2420 v2 4,656
+0%
835 Ryzen 3 1300X 4,654
+0%
836 Core i5-8265U 4,654
+0%
837 Core i5-4460S 4,654
+0%
838 Core i7-980X 4,654
839 Xeon Bronze 3104 4,652
+-0%
840 Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 4,652
+-0%
841 Pentium Gold G7400T 4,652
+-0%
842 Xeon E3-1505L v5 4,651
-0.1%
843 Xeon W3680 4,650
-0.1%

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Core i7-980X Details

Ranked #1205 of 2060 in overall performance, the Intel Core i7-980X presents a compelling snapshot of early 2010s high-end desktop computing. Launched in March 2010, this processor is now over 14 years old, placing it firmly in the category of legacy hardware. Despite its age, the Core i7-980X remains notable for its aggressive performance targets and the advanced features it introduced at the time, such as Hyper-Threading and a triple-channel memory interface. Designed for enthusiasts and power users, it was part of Intel’s Core i7 Extreme lineup, built on the Gulftown architecture and fabricated on a 32 nm process. The chip integrates 1.17 billion transistors across a 239 mm² die, featuring six cores and 12 threads, a configuration that was rare in mainstream desktops during its era.

The Core i7-980X operates at a base frequency of 3.333 GHz, with a turbo boost up to 3.6 GHz, and supports DDR3 memory via a triple-channel bus, enabling higher bandwidth than previous generations. It uses the LGA1366 socket and has a substantial TDP of 130 W, requiring robust cooling solutions. While lacking integrated graphics, the processor supports a range of Intel instruction sets including SSE, SSE2, SSE3, and SSE4.2, along with Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology, which effectively doubles core efficiency for multithreaded workloads. The processor also supports a PCIe 2.0 interface for connecting high-speed peripherals and storage.

Benchmark results reveal a balanced but dated performance profile. The Core i7-980X achieves a single-core score of 4516, ranking #1277 of 2060, and a multicore score of 4683, placing it #987 of 2060. Its overall score of 4583 lands it at #1205, indicating it holds its own in single-threaded tasks but trails significantly in modern multicore applications. In comparison to contemporary processors, it falls behind the top 50 list, which includes today’s high-end CPUs like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX and Core Ultra 9 285K. However, it competes closely with mid-tier CPUs from the same era, such as the Core i5-3450 and Core i7-2760QM.

Despite its age, the Core i7-980X remains a testament to Intel’s engineering focus on performance and overclocking flexibility. With an unlocked multiplier, it was a favorite among enthusiasts who sought to push the limits of desktop computing in the early 2010s. While it is no longer competitive in today’s market, it played a pivotal role in shaping the expectations for multi-core desktop processors and remains a significant milestone in Intel’s history. As of March 2026, the Core i7-980X is best suited for retro computing, legacy system maintenance, or educational purposes rather than modern workloads.
Frequently Compared

Intel Core i3-4030U 3 views

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3 views

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 3 views

AMD Ryzen 5 3500X 3 views

AMD Athlon II X3 425 3 views

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X 3 views

AMD A10-5757M 2 views

AMD Phenom 9650 2 views

AMD A8-7200P 2 views

AMD Athlon II X2 270 2 views

Intel Core i7-980X

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i7-980X
Cores: 6
Threads: 12
Base Frequency: 3333 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 25x (unlocked)
Core Name: Gulftown
Socket: Socket 1366
Package: FC-LGA10
Target Segment: Desktop
TDP: 130 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 11.444 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Die Area: 239 mm²
Manufacturer: Intel

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4.2
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