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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i7-4980HQ vs Core i3-12100F

The Core i7-4980HQ is quite a bit slower than the Core i3-12100F on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.

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CPU

$108.95View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 61% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 8 years and 6 months newer
Available for $108.95

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

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Counter-Strike 22023

Core i7-4980HQ

502FPS

Core i3-12100F

645FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i7-4980HQ

196FPS

Core i3-12100F

309FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i7-4980HQ

201FPS

Core i3-12100F

216FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i7-4980HQ

603FPS

Core i3-12100F

711FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i7-4980HQ

325FPS

Core i3-12100F

332FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i7-4980HQ

517FPS

Core i3-12100F

542FPS

Rocket League2015

Core i7-4980HQ

905FPS

Core i3-12100F

986FPS

Valorant2020

Core i7-4980HQ

575FPS

Core i3-12100F

679FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i7-4980HQ

28%

Core i3-12100F

49%

Core i3-12100F ranks 21 points higher.

Coreshelp

Threadshelp

L3 Cachehelp

6 MB

12 MB

Core i3-12100F has 6 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i7-4980HQ

2.8 GHz

Core i3-12100F

3.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F has a 18% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i7-4980HQ

4 GHz

Core i3-12100F

4.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F boosts 7% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i7-4980HQ

47W

Core i3-12100F

58W

Core i7-4980HQ draws 11W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i7-4980HQ

Core i3-12100F

$108.95

Core i7-4980HQCore i3-12100F

Intel BGA 1364

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Crystalwell

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Mobile

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 5200

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

1600 MHz (DDR3)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i7-4980HQ or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F. It's 75% faster than the Core i7-4980HQ on average across 100+ games, scoring 49/100 vs 28/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i3-12100F than Core i7-4980HQ?expand_more

75% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i7-4980HQ or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i3-12100F worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 49/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i7-4980HQ and Core i3-12100F?expand_more

Performance: Core i7-4980HQ scores 28/100, Core i3-12100F scores 49/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i7-4980HQ or Core i3-12100F bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i7-4980HQ or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is the stronger pick at 49/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.