Intel Core i5-7300HQ vs Intel Core i7-3820 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ and the Intel Core i7-3820 represent two very different eras of Intel design, yet they compete closely in overall benchmark averages. The i5-7300HQ, a 14 nm Kaby Lake-H mobile part, posts an average benchmark score of 1448, placing it in the 38th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-3820, a 32 nm Sandy Bridge-E desktop processor, averages 1424, sitting just below at the 37th percentile. Despite the i7-3820’s older architecture and higher power envelope, the head-to-head data shows a consistent winner across every recorded test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core i7-3820 wins all six recorded comparisons, with a consistent margin of roughly 12% in every discipline. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3820 scores 496 against the i5-7300HQ’s 434, a delta of -12.5% for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 69 for the i7-3820 versus 61 for the i5-7300HQ, an 11.6% deficit for the Kaby Lake part.

Moving to newer Cinebench versions does not change the outcome. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-3820 posts 2067 while the i5-7300HQ manages 1812, a 12.3% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 291 versus 255, a 12.4% difference. Cinebench R23 repeats the trend: multi-core scores are 4923 for the i7-3820 and 4316 for the i5-7300HQ (-12.3%), while single-core scores are 695 and 609 respectively (-12.4%). The i5-7300HQ does not secure a single win in any benchmark category.

The i7-3820’s advantage is not marginal; it is remarkably uniform. Every test, regardless of core count or generation of the benchmark suite, yields a deficit between 11.6% and 12.5% for the i5-7300HQ. This consistency suggests the older chip’s higher base and boost clocks, combined with its 8 threads versus 4, provide a structural edge that newer process technology cannot overcome in these workloads. The i5-7300HQ’s only recorded wins are non-existent; the data shows a clean sweep.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i7-3820 is the stronger performer in every measured scenario. Its Cinebench scores are higher across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The margin is steady at roughly 12%, which is meaningful for rendering and CPU-bound tasks. The i7-3820 also carries an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i5-7300HQ is locked. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the i7-3820 is the clear choice based on benchmarks alone.

However, the i5-7300HQ is not without merit. It achieves these slightly lower scores with a 45 W TDP compared to the i7-3820’s 130 W, and it includes integrated graphics, which the i7-3820 lacks entirely. The i5-7300HQ is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440, while the i7-3820 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 2011. If the use case demands portability, lower power draw, or an integrated GPU, the i5-7300HQ is the only viable option. If the workload is strictly performance-driven and desktop power is acceptable, the i7-3820 wins outright.

The percentile rankings are close: the i5-7300HQ sits at the 38th percentile, the i7-3820 at the 37th. This near-parity in overall standing, despite the i7-3820’s consistent head-to-head lead, reflects the different benchmark suites and the i5-7300HQ’s additional Geekbench results, which are not present for the i7-3820. In direct comparison, the i7-3820 is superior. In broader context, they are effectively peers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel’s design timeline. The i5-7300HQ uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². The i7-3820 uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node, with a die size of 294 mm² and 1,270 million transistors. The newer process allows the i5-7300HQ to fit 4 cores and 4 threads into a much smaller die, while the i7-3820 uses its larger die for 4 cores and 8 threads.

Clock speeds favor the older chip. The i7-3820 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i5-7300HQ’s base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 3.50 GHz. The i7-3820 also has more cache: 10 MB of shared L3 versus 6 MB for the i5-7300HQ. Both share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes of 64 KB and 256 KB per core.

Memory support differs significantly. The i7-3820 supports only DDR3, but uses a quad-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-7300HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4, but uses a dual-channel bus with no bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the i5-7300HQ offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-3820 offers PCIe Gen 2 with 40 lanes. The i5-7300HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630; the i7-3820 has no integrated graphics. The i7-3820 has an unlocked multiplier, the i5-7300HQ does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has an average benchmark score of 1448, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-3820’s 1424. The difference is 24 points, or roughly 1.7%.

Q: Does the i7-3820 win every head-to-head test?

A: Yes. The i7-3820 wins all six recorded Cinebench tests: R15 multi-core (496 vs 434), R15 single-core (69 vs 61), R20 multi-core (2067 vs 1812), R20 single-core (291 vs 255), R23 multi-core (4923 vs 4316), and R23 single-core (695 vs 609).

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7300HQ has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: Is the i5-7300HQ more power-efficient?

A: Yes. The i5-7300HQ has a TDP of 45 W, while the i7-3820 has a TDP of 130 W. The i5-7300HQ also uses a 14 nm process versus the i7-3820’s 32 nm process.

Q: Does either CPU include integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-7300HQ includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD Graphics 630. The Intel Core i7-3820 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU supports quad-channel memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-7300HQ uses dual-channel memory and supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3820 wins in all measured performance benchmarks. It is the superior choice for multi-threaded rendering tasks, as shown by its 12.3% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 12.3% lead in R23 multi-core. Its single-core performance is also better, with an 11.6% lead in R15 single-core and 12.4% in R23 single-core. For any workload that relies on CPU compute, the i7-3820 is the faster part.

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ wins in efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 45 W TDP is less than a third of the i7-3820’s 130 W, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. It includes integrated graphics, which is essential for systems without a discrete GPU. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, offering more memory type options. Its PCIe Gen 3 interface, while fewer lanes (16 versus 40), is a newer standard. The i5-7300HQ also has a higher average benchmark score in the database, 1448 versus 1424, and a slightly better percentile ranking at 38 versus 37.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on nearly every core specification. The i5-7300HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3820 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5-7300HQ and 3.60 GHz for the i7-3820. Boost clocks are 3.50 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 W for the i5-7300HQ and 130 W for the i7-3820.

The socket is different: Intel BGA 1440 for the i5-7300HQ, Intel Socket 2011 for the i7-3820. The architecture is Kaby Lake (14 nm) for the i5-7300HQ, Sandy Bridge (32 nm) for the i7-3820. L3 cache is 6 MB shared for the i5-7300HQ and 10 MB shared for the i7-3820. Memory support: the i5-7300HQ handles DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus; the i7-3820 handles only DDR3 with a quad-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity: the i5-7300HQ has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the i7-3820 has Gen 2 with 40 lanes. Integrated graphics: present on the i5-7300HQ (Intel HD Graphics 630), absent on the i7-3820. The multiplier is unlocked on the i7-3820, locked on the i5-7300HQ. The i7-3820 has a larger die (294 mm²) and 1,270 million transistors; the i5-7300HQ has a 126 mm² die with no transistor count recorded. The i5-7300HQ has a launch MSRP of $250, while the i7-3820 has a launch MSRP of $305.