Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i7-4710HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4710HQ and the Intel Core i3-7350K are two processors from different eras and market segments, yet their average benchmark scores place them nearly on top of each other. The i7-4710HQ has an average benchmark score of 1473, while the i3-7350K sits at 1462, a difference of only 0.8% in favor of the older mobile chip. However, this statistical tie masks a dramatic split in workload behavior, with the i7 dominating rendering tests and the i3 winning decisively in Geekbench. The data reveals two fundamentally different designs: a 4-core/8-thread mobile powerhouse with a 2.50 GHz base clock and a dual-core desktop chip running at a fixed 4.20 GHz with an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the complete sweep by the Intel Core i7-4710HQ across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 472 against the i3's 417, a 13.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar margin, with the i7 at 66 and the i3 at 58, a 13.8% gap. This consistency continues in Cinebench R20, where the i7 posts 1970 multi-core and 278 single-core, versus 1740 and 245 for the i3 — again a 13.2% and 13.5% lead, respectively. The newest Cinebench R23 iteration repeats the pattern exactly: the i7 scores 4692 multi-core and 662 single-core, while the i3 manages 4144 and 585, with the i7 ahead by 13.2% in both metrics.

The sheer uniformity of these Cinebench deltas — all hovering between 13.2% and 13.8% — suggests a consistent architectural advantage for the i7-4710HQ in this rendering workload, regardless of whether the test uses one core or all cores. The i7's 8 threads and 6 MB of shared L3 cache likely provide the edge over the i3's 4 threads and 4 MB cache, even when the i3's higher clock speed might seem beneficial.

The story flips completely in Geekbench. Here, the Intel Core i3-7350K wins multi-core with a score of 3018 against the i7's 2694, a 10.7% margin. The single-core result is even more lopsided: the i3 scores 1488 versus the i7's 947, a massive 36.4% advantage. This is a dramatic reversal. The i3's 4.20 GHz base clock (it has no boost clock listed) clearly dominates the i7's 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost in Geekbench's workload, which appears to favor raw clock speed over thread count.

The benchmark results indicate a clear dichotomy. The i7-4710HQ wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head comparisons, but the i3-7350K wins the two Geekbench tests by margins that are far larger than any of the i7's Cinebench victories. The i7's largest win is 13.8%, while the i3's largest win is 36.4%. This means the i3's wins are qualitatively more significant in magnitude, even though they are fewer in number.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the choice between these two processors depends entirely on the target application. The Intel Core i7-4710HQ is the clear winner for Cinebench-based rendering workloads, outperforming the i3-7350K by roughly 13% across every version of that test, from R15 through R23. If the workload is dominated by Cinebench-style multi-threaded rendering, the i7's 8 threads provide a consistent and reliable advantage.

However, the Intel Core i3-7350K is the definitive winner in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where it leads by 36.4%. For applications that rely on high-frequency single-thread execution, the i3's 4.20 GHz clock speed makes it the superior choice by a wide margin. The data shows the i3 is also ahead in Geekbench multi-core by 10.7%, indicating that its two physical cores running at high speed outperform the i7's four cores running at lower clocks in this particular benchmark suite.

The percentileVsAllCpus field shows both processors rank at the 38th percentile, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing among all CPUs. The average benchmark scores — 1473 for the i7 and 1462 for the i3 — confirm this near-parity. The verdict is not about which is "better" overall, but which is better suited to a specific task. The i7-4710HQ is the rendering specialist; the i3-7350K is the frequency specialist.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4710HQ wins in all Cinebench tests, which are designed to measure 3D rendering performance. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, combined with a 6 MB shared L3 cache, deliver scores of 472, 1970, and 4692 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, respectively. It also wins the single-core variants of these tests, posting 66, 278, and 662. This suggests the i7's architecture, despite its lower clock speeds, is more efficient at executing Cinebench's rendering algorithms, even on a single thread. The i7 also carries a 47 W TDP, reflecting its mobile heritage, and supports DDR3 memory with a 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

The Intel Core i3-7350K wins in Geekbench, a more general-purpose benchmark that tests a broader range of integer and floating-point operations. Its scores of 3018 (multi-core) and 1488 (single-core) are significantly higher than the i7's 2694 and 947. The i3's 4.20 GHz clock speed is the clear differentiator here. It also has a 60 W TDP, supports DDR4 memory with a 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and features an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking. The i3's L3 cache is 4 MB, which is smaller than the i7's 6 MB, but this does not hinder its Geekbench performance.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward: rendering and multi-threaded content creation favor the i7-4710HQ, while high-frequency single-thread tasks, general computing, and overclocking scenarios favor the i3-7350K. The i7 is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1364 socket, while the i3 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1151, further cementing their different target platforms.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-4710HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The i7-4710HQ has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i3-7350K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency.

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-4710HQ scores 4692 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 13.2% higher than the i3-7350K's score of 4144.

Q: Which CPU wins in Geekbench single-core, and by how much?

A: The i3-7350K wins in Geekbench single-core with a score of 1488, which is 36.4% higher than the i7-4710HQ's score of 947.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The i7-4710HQ is built on a 22 nm process, while the i3-7350K is built on a 14 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, both the i7-4710HQ and the i3-7350K have ECC memory support listed as false.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i7-4710HQ is based on the Haswell architecture with the codename Crystalwell, built on a 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die. The i3-7350K is based on the newer Kaby Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process node. Transistor count and die size are not listed for the i3, but the smaller process node typically indicates a denser, more power-efficient design. The i7 uses a 47 W TDP, while the i3 uses a 60 W TDP, a difference attributable to the i7's mobile market segment versus the i3's desktop segment.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the i7-4710HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7350K has only 4 MB. This 2 MB difference in L3 cache likely contributes to the i7's Cinebench advantage. Memory support also differs: the i7 supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a higher 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i7-4710HQ features Intel HD 4600, while the i3-7350K features Intel HD 630. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7 is socketed on Intel BGA 1364 and is marked as end-of-life with a release date of 2014-03-31, while the i3 is on Intel Socket 1151, remains active in production, and was released on 2017-01-02. The i3-7350K has an unlocked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: true), making it overclockable, whereas the i7-4710HQ's multiplier is locked. The part numbers are SR1PX for the i7 and SR35B for the i3.