Intel Core i5-7440HQ vs Intel Core i7-8665U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7440HQ and Intel Core i7-8665U are both end-of-life mobile processors, yet they represent two distinct philosophies within Intel’s lineup. The i5-7440HQ is a 45-watt, quad-core part from the Kaby Lake-H generation, built for performance in thicker laptops, while the i7-8665U is a 15-watt, quad-core with hyper-threading from Whiskey Lake-U, designed for efficiency in ultraportables. Benchmark data reveals a clear, consistent winner across every single test, but the story is more nuanced when considering the architecture, power envelope, and intended use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8665U wins all six benchmark comparisons, with a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-8665U scores 527 against the i5-7440HQ’s 463, a delta of -12.1% (from the i5’s perspective). The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern, with the i7-8665U at 74 and the i5-7440HQ at 65, a -12.2% difference. These are not marginal victories; they represent a substantial performance gap in favor of the newer, lower-power chip.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the trend holds. The i7-8665U posts 2197 in multicore, while the i5-7440HQ manages 1933, a -12% delta. In single-core R20, the scores are 309 for the i7-8665U and 272 for the i5-7440HQ, again a -12% difference. The most recent Cinebench R23 results reinforce this narrative: the i7-8665U achieves 5232 multicore and 738 single-core, versus 4603 and 649 for the i5-7440HQ, with deltas of -12% and -12.1%, respectively. The consistency of the -12% margin across all tests is striking—it suggests a fundamental architectural or clock-speed advantage, not a workload-specific quirk.

The i5-7440HQ does have one benchmark category where it appears, but it is not in the head-to-head list. In Geekbench, the i5-7440HQ scores 3043 multicore and 1184 single-core, figures that are not compared directly against the i7-8665U, which lacks Geekbench results in the data. However, the average benchmark score for the i5-7440HQ is 1527, while the i7-8665U sits at 1513, a negligible 0.9% difference that places them within 1% of each other overall. This suggests that while the Cinebench suite favors the i7-8665U heavily, the aggregate picture is far closer, hinting that the i5-7440HQ might have strengths in other, unlisted workloads.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the Intel Core i7-8665U is the superior processor for raw compute performance. It wins every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore, with a consistent 12% lead. This is a decisive victory, especially considering the i7-8665U operates at a 15-watt TDP versus the i5-7440HQ’s 45 watts. The implication is clear: the i7-8665U delivers more performance while consuming significantly less power, a remarkable achievement for an ultraportable chip. Any user prioritizing multi-threaded rendering or single-thread responsiveness—as measured by Cinebench—should unequivocally choose the i7-8665U.

However, the verdict is not entirely one-sided when looking at the broader benchmark landscape. The i5-7440HQ has Geekbench scores (3043 multicore, 1184 single-core) that are not compared head-to-head, and its average benchmark score of 1527 is marginally higher than the i7-8665U’s 1513. In the nearestRivals data, the i5-7440HQ is listed as a rival to the i7-8665U with a deltaPct of 0.9% (favoring the i5), while the i7-8665U shows a -0.9% delta against the i5. This indicates that in an average of all benchmarks, the two are essentially tied. The i7-8665U wins the Cinebench suite, but the i5-7440HQ might edge out a win in other, unmeasured applications. For a user who relies solely on Cinebench-style workloads, the i7-8665U is the clear pick; for a user with a mix of tasks, the data suggests a near-parity that would leave the choice to other factors like power or platform.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, which explains the performance gap despite similar core counts. The i5-7440HQ is based on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, on a 14 nm process node from Intel. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i7-8665U, on the other hand, is built on Whiskey Lake (Whiskey Lake-U), also on a 14 nm node, but it brings hyper-threading: 4 cores and 8 threads. Its base clock is listed at 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz), which is lower than the i5-7440HQ’s base, but its boost clock reaches 4.80 GHz, a full 1 GHz higher. This higher boost clock, coupled with hyper-threading, is the primary driver of the i7-8665U’s superior Cinebench performance.

Cache configurations also differ. The i5-7440HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8665U offers 8 MB shared. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) caches. The larger L3 cache on the i7-8665U likely contributes to better performance in cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not isolate this effect. The i7-8665U also lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-7440HQ does not specify a figure; both support DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configurations. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-7440HQ uses Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i7-8665U has UHD Graphics 620, though no graphics benchmarks are provided in the data.

The sockets are incompatible: the i5-7440HQ uses Intel BGA 1440, and the i7-8665U uses Intel BGA 1528. This means they are not drop-in replacements for each other, and the choice of processor is tied to the motherboard or laptop design. The i5-7440HQ has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-8665U’s die size is not listed. Both are end-of-life products, with the i5-7440HQ released in January 2017 and the i7-8665U in September 2018, a difference of roughly 20 months in launch timing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U wins with a score of 5232 compared to the i5-7440HQ’s 4603, a delta of -12% from the i5’s perspective.

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

A: No. Both have 4 cores, but the i5-7440HQ has 4 threads (no hyper-threading), while the i7-8665U has 8 threads (hyper-threading enabled).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i5-7440HQ has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i7-8665U has a TDP of 15 watts, making the i7-8665U significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Are these processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, though they use different architectures (Kaby Lake-H vs. Whiskey Lake-U).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-8665U has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the i5-7440HQ boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-7440HQ outperforms the i7-8665U?

A: In the head-to-head benchmarks, no—the i7-8665U wins all six Cinebench tests. However, the i5-7440HQ has a higher average benchmark score (1527 vs. 1513), and its Geekbench scores (3043 multicore, 1184 single-core) are not compared directly, leaving room for potential wins in other suites.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8665U wins decisively in every benchmark category where direct comparisons exist. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it leads by approximately 12% in both single-core and multicore tests. This makes it the clear choice for applications that rely on Cinebench-style rendering, such as 3D modeling or video encoding, where the combination of hyper-threading and a higher boost clock (4.80 GHz) provides a tangible advantage. The i7-8665U also wins on power efficiency, with a 15-watt TDP versus 45 watts, meaning it can sustain high performance in thinner, cooler laptops without thermal throttling.

The Intel Core i5-7440HQ, despite losing all head-to-head tests, has a few areas where it could be preferred based on the data. Its average benchmark score of 1527 is slightly higher than the i7-8665U’s 1513, suggesting that in a broader benchmark battery, the i5-7440HQ might hold its own or even win. Its Geekbench multicore score of 3043 and single-core score of 1184 are listed but not compared, so it is possible the i5-7440HQ excels in Geekbench-style workloads like office productivity or web browsing. Additionally, the i5-7440HQ has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz vs. 1.90 GHz), which could translate to more consistent performance in sustained, non-boosted workloads where the i7-8665U’s lower base clock might cause it to dip below its boost frequency more often.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two processors are as follows:

• Threads: The i5-7440HQ has 4 threads, while the i7-8665U has 8 threads.
• Base Clock: The i5-7440HQ has a base clock of 2.80 GHz, while the i7-8665U has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz).
• Boost Clock: The i5-7440HQ boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the i7-8665U boosts to 4.80 GHz.
• TDP: The i5-7440HQ is rated at 45 watts, and the i7-8665U at 15 watts.
• Socket: The i5-7440HQ uses Intel BGA 1440, and the i7-8665U uses Intel BGA 1528.
• Architecture / Codename: The i5-7440HQ is Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H), and the i7-8665U is Whiskey Lake (Whiskey Lake-U).
• L3 Cache: The i5-7440HQ has 6 MB shared, while the i7-8665U has 8 MB shared.
• Memory Bandwidth: The i7-8665U lists 38.4 GB/s; the i5-7440HQ does not have a listed figure.
• Integrated Graphics: The i5-7440HQ has Intel HD Graphics 630, and the i7-8665U has UHD Graphics 620.
• Die Size: The i5-7440HQ is 126 mm², while the i7-8665U has no listed die size.
• Launch MSRP: The i5-7440HQ launched at $250, and the i7-8665U at $409.