Intel Core i3-8350K vs Intel Core i7-7820HK Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

The Intel Core i3-8350K has an average benchmark score of 2096, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-7820HK's average of 2048. The i3-8350K sits 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X and 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544, while the i7-7820HK matches the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 exactly.

Q: Is the i7-7820HK faster in Cinebench tests?

Yes, the i7-7820HK wins every Cinebench test recorded. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 6306 against 5884 for the i3-8350K, a 6.7% lead. The same 6.7% margin appears in R20 multicore (2648 vs 2471) and R15 multicore (635 vs 593).

Q: Where does the i3-8350K beat the i7-7820HK?

The i3-8350K wins both Geekbench tests. Its Geekbench multicore score of 4992 beats the i7-7820HK's 4173 by 19.6%, and in singlecore it scores 1564 against 1273, a 22.9% advantage. These are the only two benchmark wins for the i3-8350K out of the eight recorded tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

Both CPUs have 4 cores. The i3-8350K has 4 threads, while the i7-7820HK has 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. This difference helps explain the i7-7820HK's consistent Cinebench multicore wins, though the i3-8350K still manages a strong Geekbench multicore result.

Q: Are these CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

Yes, both have an unlocked multiplier. The i3-8350K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-7820HK is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440, so the practical overclocking scenarios differ despite both being multiplier-unlocked.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

No, only the i3-8350K supports ECC memory. The i7-7820HK does not. Both use dual-channel memory, and the i3-8350K supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-7820HK supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each?

The Intel Core i3-8350K has a launch MSRP of $168. The Intel Core i7-7820HK has a launch MSRP of $378.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the recorded benchmark results, the split is clear. The i7-7820HK wins six of eight tests, taking every Cinebench workload across R15, R20, and R23, both singlecore and multicore. The margins are consistent at 6.6% to 6.7% in favor of the mobile chip. If your workload relies on Cinebench-style rendering, the i7-7820HK is the stronger choice in every recorded run.

The i3-8350K wins the two Geekbench tests, and it wins them by a wide margin. Geekbench multicore shows a 19.6% lead, and Geekbench singlecore shows a 22.9% lead. That is not a small gap; it suggests the i3-8350K has a significant advantage in the specific tasks Geekbench measures, which are more representative of general desktop responsiveness and everyday application performance.

For a desktop builder, the i3-8350K also offers the practical benefit of a desktop socket, Intel Socket 1151, versus the i7-7820HK's BGA 1440 mobile package. The i3-8350K's higher base clock of 4.00 GHz compared to 2.90 GHz helps explain its Geekbench dominance, since that benchmark rewards raw clock speed more than thread count.

For someone working primarily in threaded rendering workloads, the i7-7820HK's 8 threads versus 4 threads gives it the edge in every Cinebench iteration. The data shows a consistent performance pattern: thread-heavy Cinebench workloads favor the i7-7820HK, while Geekbench's mixed workload favors the i3-8350K.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built by Intel on a 14 nm process, and both have a die size of 126 mm². They share the same 4-core layout and identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The fundamental architectural split is generational.

The i3-8350K uses the Coffee Lake architecture and belongs to the Core i3 (Coffee Lake) generation. It was released on 2017-10-04. The i7-7820HK uses Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, and belongs to the Core i7 (Kaby Lake-H) generation. It was released earlier, on 2017-01-02.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-8350K carries UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-7820HK carries Intel HD Graphics 630. Both are Intel integrated solutions, but they are named differently in the database.

Memory support is another architectural split. The i3-8350K supports DDR4 only, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-7820HK supports both DDR3 and DDR4, and no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. The i3-8350K also supports ECC memory, while the i7-7820HK does not.

Both CPUs have Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both are end-of-life products. The i3-8350K is classified as a desktop market segment part, while the i7-7820HK is classified as mobile.

Specification Differences

The most immediate difference is thread count: 4 threads for the i3-8350K versus 8 threads for the i7-7820HK. Both have 4 cores, but the i7-7820HK doubles the thread count.

Base clocks differ substantially. The i3-8350K runs at 4.00 GHz with no boost clock recorded. The i7-7820HK runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock with a 3.90 GHz boost clock. The i3-8350K relies entirely on its high fixed clock, while the i7-7820HK has a lower base but can boost up to 3.90 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The i3-8350K has a TDP of 91, while the i7-7820HK has a TDP of 45. That makes the mobile chip significantly more power-efficient on paper, though it also reflects the different market segments.

Socket and packaging differ completely. The i3-8350K uses Intel Socket 1151 and is a desktop part. The i7-7820HK uses Intel BGA 1440 and is a mobile soldered part. This is not a choice between two interchangeable CPUs; they target entirely different platforms.

Memory support differs as noted: the i3-8350K supports DDR4 with ECC, while the i7-7820HK supports DDR3 and DDR4 without ECC. Memory bandwidth is recorded only for the i3-8350K at 38.4 GB/s.

The part numbers and launch MSRPs also differ: SR3N4 for the i3-8350K at $168, SR32P for the i7-7820HK at $378.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean split across eight tests. The i7-7820HK wins all six Cinebench tests, and the i3-8350K wins both Geekbench tests.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-7820HK scores 635 against 593 for the i3-8350K, a 6.6% advantage. In R15 singlecore, the i7-7820HK scores 89 against 83, a 6.7% lead. These are modest but consistent margins.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multicore shows 2648 for the i7-7820HK versus 2471 for the i3-8350K, a 6.7% delta. Singlecore shows 373 versus 348, again 6.7%. The consistency across R15 and R20 suggests a stable architectural advantage for the i7-7820HK in this benchmark family.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The i7-7820HK scores 6306 multicore against 5884, and 890 singlecore against 830. Both deltas sit at 6.7%. The i7-7820HK's 8 threads clearly help in multicore, but its singlecore wins indicate that clock speed alone does not tell the whole story, since its 3.90 GHz boost clock trails the i3-8350K's fixed 4.00 GHz.

Geekbench flips the result dramatically. The i3-8350K scores 4992 multicore versus 4173 for the i7-7820HK, a 19.6% win. Singlecore shows 1564 versus 1273, a 22.9% win. These are the largest margins in the entire comparison, and they favor the desktop chip in both directions.

The overall win count is 6 for the i7-7820HK and 2 for the i3-8350K. But the magnitude matters: the i3-8350K's two wins are nearly three times larger in percentage terms than the i7-7820HK's six wins. The i7-7820HK wins more tests, but the i3-8350K wins the tests it takes by a much wider margin.

The Verdict

The choice comes down to workload and platform. If the target workload is Cinebench-style rendering, the i7-7820HK wins every recorded iteration with a consistent 6.7% margin. It also offers 8 threads and a lower TDP of 45, making it the more efficient part on paper. But it is a mobile BGA 1440 chip, so it belongs in a laptop or a custom mobile build, not a standard desktop.

If the target workload is Geekbench-style general performance, the i3-8350K is the clear winner. Its 19.6% multicore and 22.9% singlecore leads are substantial, and its fixed 4.00 GHz clock with no boost dependency makes it straightforward. It also supports ECC memory, which the i7-7820HK does not.

Desktop builders should pick the i3-8350K. It fits Intel Socket 1151, supports ECC, and delivers a 22.9% singlecore advantage in Geekbench. Mobile users who need threaded rendering performance and can accept the soldered BGA 1440 package should pick the i7-7820HK, which wins six of eight tests and offers 8 threads.

Both CPUs sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing. The i3-8350K's average benchmark score of 2096 is slightly higher than the i7-7820HK's 2048, but the nearest rivals for each chip reinforce how close they are: the i3-8350K trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X and Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G within 0.2%, while the i7-7820HK sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and matches the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5.

The data does not declare an overall winner. It declares two different tools. For Geekbench-style desktop work, the i3-8350K wins by a landslide. For Cinebench rendering, the i7-7820HK wins consistently. Pick based on the workload, not the brand.