Intel Core i5-7300HQ vs Intel Core i7-3770S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this matchup into two very different stories. In Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i7-3770S is the clear winner across the board. In Geekbench tests, the Intel Core i5-7300HQ turns the tables decisively.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the i7-3770S scores 529 in multi-core against 434 for the i5-7300HQ, a 21.9% advantage. The single-core gap is nearly identical: 74 versus 61, a 21.3% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i7-3770S posts 2205 multi-core versus 1812, a 21.7% edge, and 311 single-core versus 255, a 22% lead. Cinebench R23 repeats the same story: 5251 against 4316 in multi-core, and 741 against 609 in single-core, both showing a 21.7% advantage for the older desktop chip.

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across all six Cinebench runs, the i7-3770S wins by roughly 21% to 22%, regardless of workload intensity or rendering complexity. This suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Then comes Geekbench, where the results flip entirely. The i5-7300HQ scores 3044 in multi-core versus 2220 for the i7-3770S, a 27.1% margin in favor of the mobile chip. The single-core gap is even larger: 1052 versus 655, a 37.7% blowout. These are not marginal differences; the i5-7300HQ nearly doubles the single-core score of its rival.

So the head-to-head record stands at 6 wins for the i7-3770S and 2 wins for the i5-7300HQ. But the magnitude of the Geekbench wins matters. The i5-7300HQ's 37.7% single-core advantage is the largest delta in the entire comparison, while the Cinebench wins for the i7-3770S cluster tightly around 21% to 22%.

What explains this split? The Cinebench suite tends to reward sustained multi-threaded throughput, where the i7-3770S's 8 threads give it a structural edge over the i5-7300HQ's 4 threads. Geekbench, by contrast, is more sensitive to per-core efficiency and memory latency, areas where the newer Kaby Lake architecture excels. The data shows two processors optimized for different performance profiles, and the benchmark suite determines which one comes out ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3770S dominates rendering and content-creation workloads. All three Cinebench versions, R15, R20, and R23, show the same result: the i7-3770S finishes roughly 22% ahead in both single-core and multi-core tests. This makes it the stronger choice for tasks that rely on sustained CPU rendering, such as 3D modeling, video encoding, or any workload that scales with thread count. Its 8 threads allow it to process more parallel work than the i5-7300HQ's 4 threads, and the benchmark results confirm this advantage holds across different Cinebench versions.

The i5-7300HQ wins in Geekbench, which measures a broader mix of everyday tasks including encryption, compression, memory operations, and integer and floating-point math. The 37.7% single-core lead suggests it handles latency-sensitive, single-threaded applications with noticeably more agility. The 27.1% multi-core lead in Geekbench is also substantial, indicating that even with only 4 threads, the newer architecture's efficiency overcomes the i7-3770S's thread count advantage in this particular test suite.

For general productivity, web browsing, office applications, and lightweight coding, the i5-7300HQ's Geekbench performance points to a snappier experience. For heavy compute tasks like rendering frames or compiling large projects, the i7-3770S's Cinebench scores make it the better workhorse.

The avgBenchmarkScore data shows the overall picture is close: the i7-3770S averages 1498 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i5-7300HQ averages 1448. That is a 3.4% difference in favor of the older chip, but both sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals confirm the parity: 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 i5-7300HQ sits within 0.6% of the AMD Opteron 6378, Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5, AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE, and Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5. Both processors occupy the same performance tier, just with different strengths within that tier.

Architecture Differences

The i7-3770S is built on Ivy Bridge, Intel's 22 nm process, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. It uses the Intel Socket 1155 platform and targets the desktop market. The i5-7300HQ uses Kaby Lake-H on Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm² and no transistor count recorded. It uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket and is a mobile part.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i7-3770S has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading. The i5-7300HQ also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, so it lacks Hyper-Threading. This explains the Cinebench multi-core gap: the i7-3770S can process twice as many threads, even if each individual core is slower.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. The i7-3770S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i5-7300HQ has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i7-3770S has higher clocks on paper, yet the i5-7300HQ wins Geekbench single-core by 37.7%. This indicates the Kaby Lake architecture delivers significantly more instructions per clock, or IPC, than Ivy Bridge.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is 8 MB on the i7-3770S versus 6 MB on the i5-7300HQ. The larger L3 on the older chip helps in cache-sensitive workloads, but the newer chip's efficiency compensates in other areas.

Memory support diverges. The i7-3770S supports DDR3 only, while the i5-7300HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Neither supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3770S includes Intel HD 4000, while the i5-7300HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630. The newer graphics engine on the i5-7300HQ is a generational leap forward, though the benchmark data does not include GPU-specific tests.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not officially supported. The i7-3770S was released in April 2012, while the i5-7300HQ arrived in January 2017, a gap of nearly five years. The i5-7300HQ is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i7-3770S has no recorded production status. The i5-7300HQ has a launch MSRP of $250.

Power consumption differs notably. The i7-3770S has a 65 W TDP, while the i5-7300HQ has a 45 W TDP. The mobile chip draws less power while achieving higher Geekbench scores, which reflects the efficiency gains from the 14 nm process node.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i7-3770S is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering and compute-heavy workloads. Its 8 threads and consistent 21% to 22% Cinebench advantage across three versions of the test make it the stronger performer for video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation tasks. The 8 MB L3 cache and higher clock speeds support sustained throughput.

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is the better choice for general-purpose, latency-sensitive computing. Its 37.7% Geekbench single-core lead and 27.1% multi-core lead indicate superior per-core efficiency. For web browsing, office productivity, and everyday applications, the i5-7300HQ should feel more responsive. It also consumes less power at 45 W TDP versus 65 W, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory.

Neither processor is a dominant overall winner. The avgBenchmarkScore difference is only 3.4% in favor of the i7-3770S, and both sit at the 38th percentile globally. The choice comes down to workload. Render farms and compute nodes should favor the i7-3770S. General-purpose laptops and compact systems should favor the i5-7300HQ.

The i5-7300HQ's newer architecture, Kaby Lake versus Ivy Bridge, gives it a significant IPC advantage that shows up strongly in Geekbench. The i7-3770S compensates with Hyper-Threading and higher clocks, which Cinebench rewards. The recorded data does not indicate a single "better" processor, only two processors with different performance profiles.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering performance, the i7-3770S is the pick. For users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness and efficiency, the i5-7300HQ is the pick. The benchmark record supports both conclusions with consistent, repeatable margins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ wins the remaining 2, which are the Geekbench multi-core and single-core tests.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i5-7300HQ leads by 37.7% (1052 versus 655). The largest Cinebench win for the Intel Core i7-3770S is 22% in Cinebench R20 single-core.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both processors have 4 cores. The Intel Core i7-3770S has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7300HQ has 4 threads. The i7-3770S supports simultaneous multithreading, the i5-7300HQ does not.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S has an average benchmark score of 1498. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has an average benchmark score of 1448. Both place at the 38th percentile among all CPUs in the database.