Intel Core i5-5575R vs Intel Core i5-7300HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5575R and the Intel Core i5-7300HQ are two quad-core processors that, on paper, appear to be separated by nearly two years of architectural evolution. In practice, the benchmark data tells a remarkably close story, with the older Broadwell-based i5-5575R edging out the Kaby Lake-H i5-7300HQ in every single head-to-head test. This is a narrow victory, however, with the largest margin being a 6.7% lead in Geekbench multi-core, while most Cinebench deltas sit at 0.2% or less. The data suggests that for raw computational throughput, these two CPUs are effectively peers, with the i5-5575R holding a slight but consistent advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-5575R wins all eight benchmark comparisons, but the margins tell a story of near-parity punctuated by one significant outlier. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-5575R scores 435 against the i5-7300HQ’s 434, a 0.2% lead. The single-core result in the same test is a dead heat at 61 points for both processors. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-5575R again takes multi-core by a 0.2% margin (1816 vs. 1812) and single-core by 0.4% (256 vs. 255). The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the i5-5575R leads 4324 to 4316 in multi-core (0.2%) and 610 to 609 in single-core (0.2%).

The most decisive separation appears in Geekbench. In the multi-core test, the i5-5575R posts 3247 against the i5-7300HQ’s 3044, a substantial 6.7% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result narrows the gap to 1.9%, with scores of 1072 and 1052 respectively. This Geekbench multi-core result is the single largest margin in the entire comparison and indicates that the i5-5575R’s memory subsystem or cache configuration provides a meaningful benefit in certain workloads that Cinebench’s rendering tasks do not fully expose. Across all tests, the average benchmark score for the i5-5575R is 1478, while the i5-7300HQ sits at 1448, a difference of roughly 2%. Both processors land in the 38th percentile of all CPUs, confirming their similar standing in the broader performance hierarchy.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on the same 14 nm process node from Intel, but they belong to different architectural generations. The i5-5575R is a Broadwell part, released in May 2015, while the i5-7300HQ is Kaby Lake-H, released in January 2017. The die size differs substantially: the i5-5575R measures 182 mm², whereas the i5-7300HQ is smaller at 126 mm². This size difference is notable because both have four cores and four threads, with identical 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core. The key cache difference lies in L3: the i5-5575R has 4 MB shared, while the i5-7300HQ has 6 MB shared.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-5575R features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i5-7300HQ uses Intel HD Graphics 630. Memory support is another differentiator: the i5-5575R supports only DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i5-7300HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the data. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i5-5575R is a desktop part on the Intel BGA 1364 socket, while the i5-7300HQ is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440. Their TDPs reflect this: 65 W for the desktop i5-5575R versus 45 W for the mobile i5-7300HQ. The i5-5575R’s base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost of 3.30 GHz; the i5-7300HQ starts lower at 2.50 GHz but boosts higher to 3.50 GHz. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-5575R wins every multi-core benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core it scores 4324 versus 4316, a 0.2% margin. The largest multi-core gap is in Geekbench, where the i5-5575R leads 3247 to 3044, a 6.7% advantage.

Q: Is the newer i5-7300HQ ever faster than the i5-5575R?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-5575R winning all eight tests, with the i5-7300HQ recording zero wins. The closest result is a tie in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both score 61.

Q: Do the processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both the i5-5575R and the i5-7300HQ have exactly 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the main architectural difference between the two?

A: The i5-5575R is based on Broadwell architecture, while the i5-7300HQ uses Kaby Lake. The i5-5575R has a larger die (182 mm²) but less L3 cache (4 MB) compared to the i5-7300HQ’s smaller die (126 mm²) and larger L3 cache (6 MB).

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The i5-5575R includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, whereas the i5-7300HQ comes with Intel HD Graphics 630. The benchmark data does not include any graphics performance tests.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-7300HQ has a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the i5-5575R’s 3.30 GHz. However, the i5-5575R has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specification fields. The i5-5575R has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i5-7300HQ runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. The TDP is 65 W for the i5-5575R and 45 W for the i5-7300HQ. They use different sockets: Intel BGA 1364 for the i5-5575R and Intel BGA 1440 for the i5-7300HQ. The architecture differs, with the i5-5575R on Broadwell and the i5-7300HQ on Kaby Lake. Die size is 182 mm² for the i5-5575R versus 126 mm² for the i5-7300HQ. L3 cache is 4 MB for the i5-5575R and 6 MB for the i5-7300HQ. Memory support sees the i5-5575R limited to DDR3, while the i5-7300HQ accepts both DDR3 and DDR4. The i5-5575R lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-7300HQ has no figure listed. Integrated graphics are Iris Pro Graphics 6200 on the i5-5575R and Intel HD Graphics 630 on the i5-7300HQ. The i5-5575R is a desktop part, while the i5-7300HQ is mobile. Production status also differs: the i5-5575R is marked Active, while the i5-7300HQ is End-of-life. Release dates are May 2015 and January 2017 respectively, with launch MSRPs of $265 and $250.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-5575R wins every benchmark category in this comparison, so its strengths are straightforward. It leads in all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core. The most pronounced win is Geekbench multi-core, where its 6.7% advantage over the i5-7300HQ is the largest delta in the dataset. This suggests the i5-5575R has an edge in memory-sensitive applications, given its higher memory bandwidth figure and desktop-class design. Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz likely contributes to its consistent, if small, leads in single-core tests. The i5-5575R also carries a 65 W TDP, which allows for sustained performance in a desktop chassis.

The i5-7300HQ, despite losing all eight head-to-head tests, has its own redeeming qualities. Its 45 W TDP makes it suited for mobile systems where power efficiency is critical. It has a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz, which could provide short bursts of performance in lightly threaded tasks, though the benchmark data does not show it winning any single-core test. Its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory gives system designers flexibility. The larger 6 MB L3 cache is a structural advantage, but it does not translate into a benchmark victory in this dataset. The i5-7300HQ’s nearest rival in the data, the AMD Opteron 6378, has an identical average score of 1447, placing it on par with the i5-5575R’s rivals rather than with the i5-5575R itself.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-5575R is the superior processor. It wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from a negligible 0.2% in most Cinebench tests to a decisive 6.7% in Geekbench multi-core. Its average benchmark score of 1478 sits above the i5-7300HQ’s 1448, and it outperforms its own nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-7500T (1483) and Intel Core i7-4710HQ (1473), by small margins. For users seeking maximum compute performance from these two specific chips, the i5-5575R is the clear choice.

The i5-7300HQ, however, is not without a reason to exist. Its 45 W TDP and mobile socket designation make it the appropriate pick for laptop or small-form-factor designs where the i5-5575R’s 65 W desktop TDP would be impractical. The i5-7300HQ also offers DDR4 memory support and a higher boost clock, which are real features, even if they do not yield benchmark wins in this comparison. It sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, identical to the i5-5575R, and its nearest rival, the AMD Opteron 6378, scores 1447, only one point below it. For a mobile part, it delivers competitive performance per watt. Ultimately, the verdict is split by use case: the i5-5575R wins on raw performance in every measured test, while the i5-7300HQ wins on power efficiency and platform flexibility for mobile systems.