Core i7-6970HQ
Popular choices:
FX-6350
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
Core i7-6970HQ
2016Why buy it
- ✅Draws 1W instead of 125W, a 124W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (4,632 vs 4,640).
FX-6350
2013Why buy it
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $132 MSRP, while Core i7-6970HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌12400% higher power demand at 125W vs 1W.
Core i7-6970HQ
2016FX-6350
2013Why buy it
- ✅Draws 1W instead of 125W, a 124W reduction.
Why buy it
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (4,632 vs 4,640).
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $132 MSRP, while Core i7-6970HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌12400% higher power demand at 125W vs 1W.
Quick Answers
So, is FX-6350 better than Core i7-6970HQ?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 111 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 87 FPS | 98 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 115 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 90 FPS | 95 FPS |
| ultra | 71 FPS | 79 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 69 FPS | 65 FPS |
| medium | 58 FPS | 58 FPS |
| high | 46 FPS | 45 FPS |
| ultra | 36 FPS | 36 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 115 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 104 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 78 FPS | 116 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| medium | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
| ultra | 116 FPS | 116 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-6970HQ and FX-6350
Core i7-6970HQ
Core i7-6970HQ
The Core i7-6970HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,632 points. Launch price was $623.
FX-6350
FX-6350
The FX-6350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 April 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 6144 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,640 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6970HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the FX-6350 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the FX-6350 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-6970HQ versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-6350 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the FX-6350 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-6970HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the FX-6350 uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6970HQ scores 4,632 against the FX-6350's 4,640 — a 0.2% lead for the FX-6350.
| Feature | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.2 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.9 GHz+39% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 6144 kB+500% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Vishera (2012−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,632 | 4,640 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6970HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-6350 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6970HQ | FX-6350 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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