CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7400T and the Intel Core i5-760 are both quad-core desktop processors, but they represent two vastly different eras of Intel design. The data shows a clear separation: the i5-760, a 2010-era Lynnfield chip, wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, despite the i5-7400T being a much newer Kaby Lake part. However, the i5-7400T operates at a fraction of the power envelope and supports modern platform features, making the choice between them less about raw speed and more about context and system priorities.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-760 wins across all six head-to-head tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This gives it a clean sweep of 6 wins versus 0 for the i5-7400T. For users prioritizing raw compute performance in applications that scale with CPU speed, such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or heavy multitasking, the i5-760 is the superior choice on paper. Its lead is consistent, hovering around 13-14% across every workload, suggesting a uniform advantage in both lightly-threaded and fully-threaded tasks.

Conversely, the i5-7400T finds its niche outside of raw performance. Its 35-watt TDP, compared to the i5-760's 95 watts, makes it a far more energy-efficient option. This is a processor designed for compact, low-power systems where heat output and electricity consumption are primary concerns. The i5-7400T also brings modern platform support, DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, which are absent on the older i5-760. While it loses every benchmark, it wins on efficiency and platform modernity. The data suggests a trade-off: the i5-760 for speed, the i5-7400T for efficiency and system compatibility.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures, separated by seven years of Intel development. The i5-7400T is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14nm process node. In contrast, the i5-760 uses the older Nehalem architecture (codenamed Lynnfield) on a 45nm process. This process difference is stark: 14nm versus 45nm represents a massive jump in transistor density and power efficiency. The i5-760's larger 296 mm² die size and 774 million transistors highlight the older, bulkier design, whereas the i5-7400T's process node allows for far lower power consumption without listing its transistor count.

The cache hierarchies also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is larger on the i5-760 at 8 MB shared, compared to 6 MB shared on the i5-7400T. This extra 2 MB of L3 cache could help the older chip in certain workloads, though the benchmark data shows its advantage is consistent across all tests. The i5-7400T compensates with a newer memory controller supporting DDR4, while the i5-760 is limited to DDR3. The i5-7400T also includes integrated HD 630 graphics, a feature entirely absent on the i5-760, which necessitates a discrete GPU in any system built around the older processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results tell a consistent story of the i5-760's dominance. In Cinebench R15, the i5-760 scores 466 in multi-core versus 401 for the i5-7400T, a delta of -13.9% for the newer chip. The single-core test shows a similar gap: 65 versus 56, or -13.8%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the i5-760 posts 1942 multi-core and 273 single-core, against the i5-7400T's 1672 and 236, respectively. The deltas are -13.9% and -13.6%.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding test, reinforces the trend. The i5-760 scores 4624 multi-core and 652 single-core, while the i5-7400T manages 3981 and 562. The multi-core delta is again -13.9%, and single-core is -13.8%. The consistency of these numbers is striking, across three different Cinebench versions and both single and multi-threaded workloads, the i5-760 holds a nearly identical performance advantage. This suggests a fundamental clock-speed and IPC advantage for the older chip, likely driven by its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.33 GHz, compared to the i5-7400T's 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The i5-760 wins every round, and the margin is remarkably stable.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on nearly every major specification. The i5-7400T has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the i5-760 runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost, higher in both cases. The TDP difference is significant: 35 watts for the i5-7400T versus 95 watts for the i5-760. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-7400T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-760 uses the older Intel Socket 1156.

Memory support diverges sharply, with the i5-7400T supporting DDR4 and the i5-760 supporting DDR3. The i5-7400T lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-760 does not specify a figure. PCIe support also differs: the i5-7400T has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i5-760 has Gen 2 with 16 lanes. The i5-7400T includes integrated HD 630 graphics, whereas the i5-760 has no integrated graphics. Process nodes are 14nm versus 45nm, and the i5-760 lists its transistor count (774 million) and die size (296 mm²), while the i5-7400T does not. The i5-7400T is marked as Active production status, while the i5-760 is End-of-life. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are Desktop market segment parts.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-760 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4624 versus 3981 for the i5-7400T, a -13.9% delta. The same -13.9% margin appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the i5-7400T win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-760 winning all six tests, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes. The i5-7400T has zero wins in the comparison.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i5-7400T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-760 has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the i5-7400T significantly more power-efficient, though the benchmarks show it is also slower.

Q: Can I use the same memory with both CPUs?

A: No. The i5-7400T supports DDR4 memory, while the i5-760 supports DDR3. They also use different sockets (1151 for the i5-7400T, 1156 for the i5-760), so they are not interchangeable in a motherboard.

Q: Does the i5-760 have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-760 lists no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete graphics card for display output. The i5-7400T includes integrated HD 630 graphics.

Q: What is the performance gap in single-core tests?

A: The i5-760 leads by roughly 13.8% in single-core tests. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 652 versus 562 for the i5-7400T. The margin is -13.8% in both R15 and R23 single-core tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward but nuanced verdict. The Intel Core i5-760 is the clear performance winner, outscoring the i5-7400T by approximately 14% in every benchmark. Its higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache appear to overcome its older architecture and process node. Anyone building a system purely for maximum CPU throughput from these two options should choose the i5-760, provided they can work with its DDR3 memory, PCIe Gen 2, and lack of integrated graphics.

However, the i5-7400T is not without merit. Its 35-watt TDP is a massive advantage for low-power or small-form-factor builds, and it brings modern platform features like DDR4, PCIe Gen 3, and integrated graphics that eliminate the need for a separate GPU. The i5-7400T also remains in Active production, while the i5-760 is End-of-life. For a user prioritizing efficiency, modern connectivity, and a complete integrated solution over raw speed, the i5-7400T is the logical pick. The verdict depends on context: the i5-760 for uncompromising performance, the i5-7400T for efficient, modern system builds. The benchmark data cannot reconcile these priorities, it simply shows that the older chip is faster, and the newer chip is more efficient.