AMD Ryzen 7 1700 vs Intel Core i7-7920HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 is the clear multi-core champion in this matchup, winning three of the four head-to-head benchmarks with decisive margins. Its 8 cores and 16 threads give it a 128.4% lead over the Intel Core i7-7920HQ in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and a 36.9% advantage in Geekbench multi-core. If your workload is rendering, compiling, or any heavily threaded task, the Ryzen 7 1700 is the only sensible pick from the recorded data.

The Intel Core i7-7920HQ takes the single-core crown. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock and Kaby Lake architecture deliver a 19.3% win over the Ryzen 7 1700 in Geekbench single-core. That advantage matters for older games, lightly threaded applications, and tasks where per-core responsiveness is king. The i7-7920HQ is also a mobile part with a 45 W TDP and integrated graphics, so it fits laptops and compact systems where the Ryzen's 65 W desktop package would be unwieldy.

The database puts both CPUs at nearly the same overall percentile: the Ryzen 7 1700 sits at the 45th percentile of all CPUs, the i7-7920HQ at the 44th. Their average benchmark scores are close, 2015 versus 1992. So if you are choosing based on aggregate performance alone, they are effectively peers. The decision comes down to thread count versus clock speed, and desktop versus mobile. The Ryzen 7 1700 is the better desktop workhorse. The i7-7920HQ is the better choice for a portable system where single-thread performance and lower power draw are priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen offers double the thread count.

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins all recorded multi-core tests. It leads by 128.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and by 36.9% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: Which CPU wins in single-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-7920HQ wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1267 versus 1023, a 19.3% advantage. However, the Ryzen 7 1700 wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 147 versus 87, a 69% lead.

Q: Can the Intel chip be overclocked?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-7920HQ has a locked multiplier. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked by the user.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-7920HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: Which socket does each processor use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ uses Intel BGA 1440, which is a soldered mobile socket, not a standard desktop socket.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Summit Ridge generation of the Ryzen 7 family. It uses a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ is based on Kaby Lake-H, also on a 14 nm process node, but manufactured by Intel with a smaller die size of 126 mm².

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The Ryzen 7 1700 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The i7-7920HQ has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen's larger caches, especially the doubled L3, support its wider thread count and server-style workloads.

Memory support also differs. The Ryzen 7 1700 supports DDR4 memory only, with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel part. The i7-7920HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but the database does not record a memory bandwidth figure for it. The Intel chip has integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD Graphics 630, while the Ryzen has none.

Production status and market segment separate them further. The Ryzen 7 1700 is an active desktop product, while the i7-7920HQ is end-of-life and mobile-oriented. The Ryzen's socket is AM4, a standard desktop socket with an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip uses BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, and its multiplier is locked. The Ryzen was released on 2017-03-01, the Intel part on 2017-01-02, so they are near contemporaries.

Specification Differences

The core specifications that differ between the two CPUs are straightforward. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close: the Ryzen runs at 3.00 GHz, the Intel at 3.10 GHz. Boost clocks favor Intel: 4.10 GHz versus 3.70 GHz for the Ryzen.

Thermal design power differs by 20 W. The Ryzen 7 1700 is rated at 65 W, the i7-7920HQ at 45 W. The Intel part is the more power-efficient on paper, which aligns with its mobile positioning. The Ryzen's higher TDP reflects its extra cores.

Cache capacities differ across all levels. The Ryzen has 96 KB L1 per core versus 64 KB, 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB, and 16 MB shared L3 versus 8 MB. The Ryzen supports ECC memory; the Intel does not. Memory compatibility shows the Intel chip accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Ryzen is DDR4-only.

The integrated graphics situation is a binary difference: the Intel has Intel HD Graphics 630, the AMD has none. Socket types differ: AM4 versus BGA 1440. The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD, locked on the Intel. The Ryzen's TDP is 65 W, the Intel's is 45 W. The Intel's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database, while the Ryzen's is 42.7 GB/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a lopsided battle in favor of the AMD Ryzen 7 1700, with three wins out of four tests. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Ryzen scores 1414 against the Intel's 619, a delta of 128.4%. That is more than double the Intel score, a direct result of the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads.

Cinebench R15 single-core is the second win for the AMD, though the margin is smaller in absolute terms. The Ryzen scores 147, the Intel 87, a 69% delta. This is surprising given the Intel's higher boost clock. The recorded data shows the Zen architecture handling this older single-threaded workload better than the Kaby Lake part.

Geekbench multi-core continues the AMD trend. The Ryzen 7 1700 scores 5475, the i7-7920HQ scores 3999, a 36.9% delta. The gap here is narrower than in Cinebench R15, but still substantial. The Ryzen's thread advantage translates into a solid multi-threaded win in this benchmark as well.

The sole Intel victory comes in Geekbench single-core. The i7-7920HQ scores 1267, the Ryzen 1023, a delta of -19.3% from the AMD perspective. This is the one test where the Intel's 4.10 GHz boost clock and Kaby Lake architecture pull ahead. The delta is meaningful, but it is the smallest margin in either direction among the four tests, and it does not offset the AMD's multi-core dominance.

The database also records additional Cinebench R20 and R23 scores for the Intel chip only: 2583 multi-core and 364 single-core in R20, and 6151 multi-core and 868 single-core in R23. No corresponding AMD scores are present, so these cannot be directly compared. They do show the i7-7920HQ remains functional in modern rendering workloads, but without the AMD side, they are context only.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins in every scenario that leans on parallel processing. Its 8 cores and 16 threads dominate Cinebench R15 multi-core by 128.4% and Geekbench multi-core by 36.9%. If you are rendering video, compiling code, running virtual machines, or processing large datasets, the Ryzen 7 1700 is the stronger choice. Its 16 MB L3 cache and ECC memory support also favor workstation-style tasks where data integrity and cache capacity matter.

The Intel Core i7-7920HQ wins where single-thread speed and mobility are the deciding factors. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1267 beats the Ryzen's 1023 by 19.3%. That advantage suits older games, spreadsheet-heavy office work, and any application that runs on one or two threads and cannot use the Ryzen's extra cores. The Intel chip also has integrated graphics, so it can run in a system without a discrete GPU, which is impossible with the Ryzen.

Power draw favors the Intel part. The i7-7920HQ is rated at 45 W TDP versus 65 W for the Ryzen. In a laptop or compact mobile workstation, that 20 W difference matters for battery life and thermals. The i7-7920HQ is also a mobile part by design, soldered to a BGA 1440 socket, while the Ryzen 7 1700 is a desktop AM4 socket part.

The aggregate data places them at nearly the same overall level. The Ryzen 7 1700 has a 45th percentile ranking, the i7-7920HQ a 44th, and their average benchmark scores are 2015 and 1992 respectively. So the correct pick depends entirely on the workload. For desktop multi-threaded performance, the Ryzen 7 1700 is the clear winner. For mobile single-threaded work with lower power draw, the i7-7920HQ is the better fit. The Ryzen 7 1700 wins three of four direct tests, but the Intel chip wins the one test that matters most for latency-sensitive, lightly threaded applications.