Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i7-3770S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results present an unusual split between the two processors. The Intel Core i7-3770S wins six of the eight recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-7350K wins the remaining two. However, the magnitude of the wins matters as much as the count.

In the Cinebench suite, the i7-3770S dominates across every version and workload type. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3770S scores 529 against 417 for the i3-7350K, a 26.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows the same pattern: 74 versus 58, a 27.6% lead. These are not marginal differences; the i7-3770S is consistently about a quarter ahead in this benchmark family.

The Cinebench R20 results mirror the R15 outcome almost exactly. Multicore shows 2205 for the i7-3770S versus 1740 for the i3-7350K, a 26.7% gap. Single-core R20 shows 311 versus 245, again 26.9% in favor of the i7-3770S. The R23 numbers continue the trend: 5251 against 4144 in multicore and 741 against 585 in single-core, both representing a 26.7% lead.

The Geekbench tests tell a completely different story. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-7350K scores 3018 against 2220 for the i7-3770S, a 26.4% advantage for the newer chip. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided: 1488 versus 655, a 56% deficit for the i7-3770S. This is the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison.

The data suggests the two benchmarks are measuring different aspects of performance. Cinebench rewards the i7-3770S's four cores and eight threads, while Geekbench appears to favor the i3-7350K's much higher base clock of 4.20 GHz and its newer Kaby Lake architecture. The i7-3770S does have a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, but the i3-7350K runs at 4.20 GHz as its base clock, with no boost clock listed. That raw frequency advantage appears to be decisive in Geekbench's single-core test.

Another way to read the data: the i7-3770S's wins are consistent in percentage terms, hovering between 26.7% and 27.6% across six tests. The i3-7350K's wins are more variable, ranging from 26.4% to 56%. This suggests the i3-7350K's advantage is workload-specific, while the i7-3770S's advantage is more uniform across the Cinebench family.

The average benchmark score for the i7-3770S is 1498, placing it at the 38th percentile among all CPUs. The i3-7350K has an average score of 1462, also at the 38th percentile. Despite the divergent test results, both processors land at the same percentile overall. The i7-3770S's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-8100T at 1500 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-4590S at 1493 (0.4% ahead), the AMD Opteron 6344 at 1492 (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-7500T at 1483 (1% ahead). The i3-7350K's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE at 1461 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 at 1465 (0.2% behind), the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 at 1456 (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-4710HQ at 1473 (0.7% behind). Both chips sit within 1% of their closest competitors, indicating that neither has a meaningful edge over the field at its performance level.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S wins six of the eight head-to-head tests. It takes every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, while the Intel Core i3-7350K wins both Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the i7-3770S's lead in Cinebench?

A: The i7-3770S leads by 26.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 27.6% in R15 single-core, 26.7% in R20 multicore, 26.9% in R20 single-core, 26.7% in R23 multicore, and 26.7% in R23 single-core. The smallest margin is 26.7% and the largest is 27.6%.

Q: How large is the i3-7350K's lead in Geekbench?

A: The i3-7350K leads by 26.4% in Geekbench multicore, scoring 3018 against 2220. In Geekbench single-core, it leads by 56%, scoring 1488 against 655.

Q: Do the two processors have the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both are at the 38th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-3770S has an average benchmark score of 1498, while the i3-7350K has an average score of 1462.

Q: How do they compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i7-3770S is within 1% of the Intel Core i3-8100T, Intel Core i5-4590S, AMD Opteron 6344, and Intel Core i5-7500T. The i3-7350K is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE, Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5, Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5, and Intel Core i7-4710HQ.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i7-3770S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i3-7350K has no boost clock listed.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel Core i7-3770S is the stronger choice, delivering a consistent 26.7% to 27.6% advantage across all six Cinebench tests. Its four cores and eight threads are directly reflected in these results, and the uniformity of the margin across multicore and single-core tests suggests the i7-3770S's architecture is simply more efficient in this benchmark family.

For Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i3-7350K is the better performer. Its 56% lead in Geekbench single-core is the largest margin recorded in this comparison, and its 26.4% lead in Geekbench multicore shows that the newer Kaby Lake design and higher clock speed translate to real-world gains in this test suite.

The overall averages are nearly identical: 1498 for the i7-3770S and 1462 for the i3-7350K, both at the 38th percentile. A buyer choosing between these two should base the decision on the specific applications they intend to run. If the workload resembles Cinebench, the i7-3770S wins. If it resembles Geekbench, the i3-7350K wins. Neither processor has a meaningful edge over the other in aggregate, according to the average benchmark score.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i7-3770S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-3770S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz; the i3-7350K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and no boost clock listed. Thermal design power differs slightly: 65 watts for the i7-3770S and 60 watts for the i3-7350K.

The sockets are not compatible. The i7-3770S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-7350K uses Intel Socket 1151. The i7-3770S supports DDR3 memory, while the i3-7350K supports DDR4 memory and has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the i7-3770S has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. The i7-3770S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7350K has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

The i7-3770S is locked with no unlocked multiplier, while the i3-7350K is multiplier-unlocked. The integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4000 on the i7-3770S versus Intel HD 630 on the i3-7350K. The release dates are roughly five years apart. The i7-3770S was released in April 2012, while the i3-7350K was released in January 2017. The i3-7350K has an active production status, while the i7-3770S has no production status recorded. Part numbers are SR0PN for the i7-3770S and SR35B for the i3-7350K.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The Intel Core i7-3770S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 160 mm². The Intel Core i3-7350K uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node; its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. Both chips are manufactured by Intel.

The core and thread counts create a structural difference: the i7-3770S presents 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-7350K presents 2 cores and 4 threads. This means the i7-3770S has twice the physical cores and twice the logical threads. The i3-7350K compensates with a 4.20 GHz base clock, which is 1.10 GHz higher than the i7-3770S's base clock of 3.10 GHz and 0.30 GHz higher than the i7-3770S's boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Cache allocation differs as well. The i7-3770S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 4 MB on the i3-7350K. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively, but the i7-3770S's additional cores mean it has more total L1 and L2 capacity. The i3-7350K uses DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-3770S uses DDR3 with no bandwidth figure in the database. The i3-7350K's multiplier-unlocked status and newer Kaby Lake architecture reflect its later release, while the i7-3770S's Ivy Bridge design from 2012 relies on more cores and a larger cache to achieve its benchmark results.