Intel Core i5-5675R vs Intel Core i7-4770HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4770HQ and Intel Core i5-5675R are two 4-core processors from Intel that, despite their differing market segments and release timings, land in nearly the same performance tier. The 4770HQ is a mobile Haswell part, while the 5675R is a desktop Broadwell chip. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the i7 wins decisively in all Cinebench workloads, while the i5 dominates every Geekbench test. The average benchmark scores are remarkably close—1660 for the i7 versus 1648 for the i5—placing both at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, yet their performance profiles could not be more distinct.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story of i7-4770HQ superiority. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 514 against the i5's 476, a margin of 8%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap, with 72 points versus 67 points, a 7.5% lead for the i7. This pattern holds steady across newer versions of the benchmark. In Cinebench R20, the i7 posts 2144 versus 1987 in multi-core (7.9% ahead) and 302 versus 280 in single-core (also 7.9% ahead). The i7's advantage persists in R23, where it scores 5106 against 4733 in multi-core and 720 against 668 in single-core, both representing roughly 7.8-7.9% leads.

The i7-4770HQ's wins are consistent and substantial—it leads by roughly 8 percentage points across six separate Cinebench tests. This is not a marginal victory but a systematic advantage in rendering workloads. The data suggests that the i7's Hyper-Threading technology, which gives it 8 threads versus the i5's 4, provides a measurable benefit even in single-core tests, likely due to better scheduling or thermal headroom in those specific workloads.

However, the Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-5675R scores 3738 against the i7's 3407, an 8.9% lead for the i5. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: the i5 scores 1234 versus the i7's 1013, a massive 17.9% advantage. This is a dramatic reversal—the i5 outperforms the i7 by nearly a fifth in this specific workload, while losing by roughly a twelfth in Cinebench.

The magnitude of the Geekbench single-core gap (17.9%) is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. It suggests that the i5-5675R's higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, combined with its newer Broadwell architecture, deliver substantially better raw integer and floating-point performance per thread. The i7-4770HQ, despite its lower clocks (2.20 GHz base, 3.40 GHz boost), compensates in Cinebench through its additional threads and possibly more efficient cache utilization in those specific algorithms.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and manufacturing processes. The i7-4770HQ uses the Haswell architecture, with the codename Crystalwell, built on Intel's 22 nm process node. Its die size is 264 mm² and it packs 1,400 million transistors. The i5-5675R, in contrast, uses the Broadwell architecture (also codenamed Broadwell), manufactured on the newer 14 nm process. This process shrink allows a significantly smaller die size of 182 mm², though the transistor count is not listed in the data.

Both processors have 4 physical cores and share the same L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core). The key cache difference lies in L3: the i7-4770HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-5675R has only 4 MB. This 2 MB difference in L3 could contribute to the i7's Cinebench advantage, as rendering workloads often benefit from larger shared caches.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR3, dual-channel), but the bandwidth differs. The i5-5675R supports up to 29.9 GB/s, while the i7-4770HQ is rated at 25.6 GB/s. This higher memory bandwidth on the i5 likely explains part of its Geekbench advantage, particularly in memory-intensive tests. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i7-4770HQ features Intel HD 5200, while the i5-5675R ships with Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The i5's newer architecture and higher TDP (65 W versus 47 W) suggest it can sustain higher clock speeds for longer, which may explain its single-core Geekbench dominance. Both processors are locked (multiplier unlocked: false) and neither supports ECC memory.

Market positioning further differentiates them: the i7-4770HQ targets the mobile segment with a 47 W TDP, while the i5-5675R is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The i7 is end-of-life, having been released in June 2014, while the i5 is listed as active, released in May 2015. Both share the Intel BGA 1364 socket.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of workload-dependent superiority. The Intel Core i7-4770HQ is the outright winner in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core. Its 8-thread capability and larger 6 MB L3 cache give it a consistent 7.5-8% edge across six rendering benchmarks. Any user prioritizing Cinebench-style workloads—3D rendering, video encoding, or other multi-threaded content creation—should choose the i7-4770HQ without hesitation.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-5675R dominates Geekbench, with an 8.9% lead in multi-core and a commanding 17.9% lead in single-core. The i5's higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base versus 2.20 GHz) and superior memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s) make it the better choice for general-purpose computing, office productivity, and workloads that favor high single-thread performance. The 17.9% single-core Geekbench gap is particularly decisive—it indicates a fundamentally faster processor for everyday tasks.

For a user choosing between these two, the decision hinges entirely on the primary workload. The i7-4770HQ is the renderer's choice, offering a measurable advantage in Cinebench across three versions. The i5-5675R is the generalist's pick, delivering superior Geekbench scores and better raw per-thread performance. Given that the i5 is a desktop part with a higher TDP, it may also sustain its performance more consistently in non-throttled environments. The i7's 6 wins versus the i5's 2 wins in head-to-head tests might suggest overall superiority, but the Geekbench deltas are larger in magnitude—the i5's 17.9% single-core lead outweighs any single Cinebench win.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4770HQ | Intel Core i5-5675R |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 47 W | 65 W |

| Architecture | Haswell | Broadwell |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 264 mm² | 182 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 29.9 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5200 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-06-30 | 2015-05-14 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $265 |

| Part Number | SR1ZW | SR2AJ |

The two processors share identical core counts (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), socket (Intel BGA 1364), memory type (DDR3), memory bus (dual-channel), PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes), ECC support (false), and multiplier unlock status (false).

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-4770HQ scores 5106 versus the i5-5675R's 4733, a 7.9% advantage for the i7.

Q: How large is the single-core Geekbench performance gap?

A: The i5-5675R leads by 17.9% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1234 against the i7-4770HQ's 1013.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the i7-4770HQ has 8 threads (Hyper-Threading enabled), while the i5-5675R has 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-4770HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-5675R has 4 MB—a 2 MB advantage for the i7.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-5675R supports 29.9 GB/s, which is higher than the i7-4770HQ's 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: No. The i7-4770HQ uses Intel's 22 nm node, while the i5-5675R is built on the newer 14 nm process, resulting in a smaller die size of 182 mm² versus 264 mm².