Intel Core i5-7440HQ vs Intel Core i5-7500T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7440HQ and the Intel Core i5-7500T are both 14 nm Kaby Lake parts with four cores and four threads, but they target different market segments: one is a mobile processor, the other a desktop chip. The recorded data shows a close contest, with the i5-7440HQ winning seven of eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, yet the single win for the i5-7500T reveals a notable divergence in workload behavior. This analysis breaks down where each chip excels, what the architectural details imply, and which user should favor which processor based strictly on the measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison is the Geekbench single-core test. The i5-7440HQ scores 1184 against 1078 for the i5-7500T, a delta of 9.8%. That is the largest percentage gap in any benchmark between these two parts, and it is a clear sign that the mobile chip enjoys a meaningful clock advantage in lightly threaded workloads.

Across the Cinebench suite, the i5-7440HQ wins every single iteration, but the margins are narrow and consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-7440HQ scores 463 versus 448, a 3.3% lead. The single-core R15 result is 65 against 63, a 3.2% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap widens slightly to 3.4% (1933 vs 1870), and the single-core gap stays at 3.4% (272 vs 263). In Cinebench R23, the multicore advantage is 3.3% (4603 vs 4454), and the single-core lead is again 3.3% (649 vs 628). These numbers are remarkably uniform, suggesting that the performance difference is not workload-dependent within the Cinebench family but rather a consistent clock-frequency effect.

The one benchmark where the i5-7500T comes out ahead is Geekbench multicore, scoring 3062 against 3043 for the i5-7440HQ. The margin is tiny, only 0.6%, but it is a genuine reversal. This result is curious because the i5-7440HQ wins Cinebench multicore by over 3% in every version tested. The discrepancy may stem from how each benchmark schedules threads or handles memory latency, but the data clearly shows the i5-7500T is not universally slower in multi-threaded tasks.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both processors sit in the 38th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-7440HQ has an average benchmark score of 1527, while the i5-7500T averages 1483. The i5-7440HQ is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-4670S (1526, 0% delta) and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E (1524, 0.2% delta), while it trails the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 by 0.7% (1537) and beats the Intel Core i7-8665U by 0.9% (1513). The i5-7500T sits very close to the Intel Core i5-5575R (1478, 0.4% delta), beats the AMD Opteron 6344 by 0.6% (1492) and the Intel Core i5-4590S by 0.6% (1493), and trails the Intel Core i7-4710HQ by 0.7% (1473). In other words, neither chip is dramatically faster than its immediate competitors; the differences are within a couple of percentage points.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Kaby Lake architecture, the same 14 nm process node, and the same Intel foundry. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not an option for either. The PCIe implementation is also the same: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The key architectural split appears in the codename and the socket. The i5-7440HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H codename and mounts on Intel BGA 1440, which is a soldered mobile package. The i5-7500T uses the plain Kaby Lake codename and fits into Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket that allows for easier replacement or upgrade. The market segments confirm this: the i5-7440HQ is listed as Mobile, while the i5-7500T is Desktop.

The integrated graphics differ in naming but likely in implementation too. The i5-7440HQ lists Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i5-7500T lists HD 630. The die size is only recorded for the mobile chip at 126 mm²; no die size is available for the desktop part. Memory support also diverges: the i5-7440HQ accepts both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-7500T only lists DDR4. The i5-7500T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, but no bandwidth figure is given for the i5-7440HQ.

Clock speeds tell the most important story. The i5-7440HQ has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i5-7500T starts lower at 2.70 GHz and boosts to only 3.30 GHz. That 0.50 GHz boost advantage for the mobile chip explains the consistent single-core wins. The power envelope is also different: the i5-7440HQ carries a 45 W TDP, while the i5-7500T is rated at 35 W. The lower TDP of the desktop chip is notable because it suggests the i5-7500T is designed for efficiency, yet it still nearly matches the higher-power mobile part in multi-threaded tests.

Production status differs as well. The i5-7440HQ is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-7500T remains active. Both were released on the same date, 2017-01-02, and both have part numbers in the SR series (SR32R for the mobile, SR337 for the desktop). The i5-7440HQ has a recorded launch MSRP of $250; no MSRP is listed for the i5-7500T.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-7440HQ is the clear winner for single-threaded performance and for most multi-threaded render workloads. Every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, shows the mobile chip ahead by roughly 3.3%. If a user is running applications that rely on Cinebench-style parallelism, such as 3D rendering or video encoding, the i5-7440HQ offers a small but consistent edge. The Geekbench single-core result amplifies this advantage to nearly 10%, which is significant for tasks like web browsing, spreadsheet calculations, or older games that depend heavily on one core.

The i5-7500T wins exactly one test: Geekbench multicore. The margin is only 0.6%, but it is a real result. This suggests that in certain multi-threaded workloads, particularly those that resemble Geekbench's mix of integer and floating-point operations, the desktop chip can keep pace or even pull ahead despite its lower boost clock. The 35 W TDP also makes the i5-7500T the more efficient choice on paper, which matters for always-on desktop systems or small form factor builds where heat and power draw are concerns.

For desktop users, the i5-7500T has the practical advantage of being on Socket 1151, which is a standard desktop platform. The i5-7440HQ, being a BGA 1440 mobile part, is not user-replaceable in the same way. The i5-7500T also supports only DDR4, which is the more modern memory standard, and has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-7440HQ's support for DDR3 might be useful for legacy systems, but it is not a performance advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The base clock is 2.80 GHz for the i5-7440HQ and 2.70 GHz for the i5-7500T. The boost clock is 3.80 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. TDP is 45 W versus 35 W. The socket is Intel BGA 1440 versus Intel Socket 1151. The codename is Kaby Lake-H versus Kaby Lake. The generation field also differs, listing Core i5 (Kaby Lake-H) for the mobile chip and Core i5 (Kaby Lake) for the desktop part.

Die size is recorded only for the i5-7440HQ at 126 mm²; the i5-7500T has no die size listed. Memory support is DDR3 and DDR4 for the i5-7440HQ, while the i5-7500T only lists DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for the i5-7500T, with no figure for the i5-7440HQ. The integrated graphics are named Intel HD Graphics 630 versus HD 630. The market segment is Mobile versus Desktop. Production status is end-of-life versus active. The launch MSRP is $250 for the i5-7440HQ only. The part numbers are SR32R and SR337.

The identical fields include cores (4), threads (4), architecture (Kaby Lake), process node (14 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes), and multiplier lock (true for both).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-7440HQ boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-7500T boosts to 3.30 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-7500T win any benchmark against the i5-7440HQ?

A: Yes, the i5-7500T wins the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 3062 versus 3043, a 0.6% lead.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-7440HQ scores 1184 against 1078, a 9.8% advantage.

Q: Are both processors based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use the Kaby Lake architecture and are built on a 14 nm process node by Intel.

Q: Do the two chips use the same socket?

A: No, the i5-7440HQ uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i5-7500T uses Intel Socket 1151.

Q: Which chip has a higher TDP?

A: The i5-7440HQ has a TDP of 45 W, while the i5-7500T has a TDP of 35 W.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for most users: the Intel Core i5-7440HQ is the faster processor in nearly every measured benchmark. It wins all four Cinebench tests by about 3.3% and dominates Geekbench single-core by 9.8%. Anyone prioritizing raw performance, especially in single-threaded applications, should choose the i5-7440HQ without hesitation.

The i5-7500T, however, is not without merit. Its Geekbench multicore win, while narrow, shows that it can handle certain parallel workloads competitively. The 35 W TDP makes it the lower-power option, which is relevant for compact desktop builds or systems where thermal management is a priority. The Socket 1151 platform is also a practical advantage for desktop users who want a replaceable CPU rather than a soldered mobile part.

For a mobile user, the i5-7440HQ is the obvious pick. For a desktop user building an efficient small form factor system, the i5-7500T offers a compelling combination of close performance and lower power draw. The i5-7500T is also the only one of the two still listed as active in production, which may matter for availability. Ultimately, the i5-7440HQ wins on speed, the i5-7500T wins on efficiency and platform flexibility.