Intel Core i5-7500T vs Intel Core i7-4710HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7500T and Intel Core i7-4710HQ represent two very different approaches to x86 processing, separated by nearly three years of architectural evolution and targeting distinct market segments. One is a low-power desktop chip built on a modern 14nm process; the other is a mobile powerhouse from the 22nm Haswell era, packing hyper-threading and a higher thermal ceiling. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the older i7 dominates sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads in Cinebench, while the newer i5 wins decisively in Geekbench’s mixed integer/float tests. The i7-4710HQ takes 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmark wins, yet the i5-7500T counters with the largest single-score margins in the entire comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a complete victory for the Intel Core i7-4710HQ. Across all three versions of the render test—R15, R20, and R23—the i7 posts higher scores in both single-threaded and multi-threaded runs. The differential is remarkably consistent: in multi-core tests, the i7 leads by exactly 5.1% every time. The R15 multi-core result shows 472 for the i7 versus 448 for the i5-7500T, and that same 5.1% gap repeats in R20 (1970 vs 1870) and R23 (4692 vs 4454). The i7’s advantage in single-core Cinebench tests is slightly smaller but still present: 4.5% in R15 (66 vs 63) and 5.4% in R20 (278 vs 263), with R23 single-core again settling at 5.1% (662 vs 628). This pattern suggests that the i7’s higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz—compared to the i5’s 3.30 GHz—and its 8 threads deliver a consistent edge in Cinebench’s rendering workload, which scales well with additional thread count.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. Here, the Intel Core i5-7500T wins by substantial margins: 13.7% in multi-core (3062 vs 2694) and 13.8% in single-core (1078 vs 947). This is a dramatic reversal, especially considering that the i5 has only 4 threads to the i7’s 8. The i5-7500T’s newer Kaby Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 2.70 GHz, appears far more efficient per clock in Geekbench’s workload mix, which includes memory latency tests, compression, and cryptography—tasks that benefit from the newer process node and improved IPC. The i7-4710HQ, despite its higher boost clock, cannot overcome the architectural deficit in this benchmark.

The overall win count favors the i7-4710HQ at 6 wins against 2 for the i5-7500T. However, the magnitude of the i5’s Geekbench victories (nearly 14% in both tests) is larger than the i7’s Cinebench leads (all around 5%). The average benchmark scores tell a similar story of near-parity: the i5-7500T averages 1483 across all benchmarks, while the i7-4710HQ averages 1473—a difference of just 0.7% in favor of the i5. Both CPUs sit at the 38th percentile of all processors, placing them squarely in the mid-range tier of historical performance. Their nearest rivals reinforce this positioning: the i5-7500T trades blows with the AMD Opteron 6344 (0.6% behind) and the Intel Core i5-4590S (0.6% behind), while the i7-4710HQ sits just ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 (0.6% ahead) and the Intel Core i3-7350K (0.8% ahead).

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i7-4710HQ is the pick for anyone whose primary workload is 3D rendering, video encoding, or other heavily threaded tasks that Cinebench represents. Its 5.1% lead across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests is consistent and meaningful, and its 4.5% to 5.4% edge in single-core Cinebench runs shows it doesn’t sacrifice responsiveness. The i7’s 8 threads, enabled by hyper-threading on its 4 physical cores, provide the extra parallel throughput that Cinebench rewards.

The Intel Core i5-7500T is the better choice for general-purpose desktop use, everyday multitasking, and workloads similar to Geekbench’s test suite. Its 13.7% multi-core and 13.8% single-core victories in Geekbench are decisive, indicating better per-thread performance in real-world applications that aren’t perfectly parallelized. The i5 also operates at a 35W TDP versus the i7’s 47W, making it the more thermally efficient option for compact desktop builds. Neither chip has a launch MSRP listed, so pricing cannot factor into the recommendation.

For mobile users, the decision is simpler: the i7-4710HQ is the only one of the two designed for laptops, with its BGA 1364 socket and mobile market segment designation. The i5-7500T uses the desktop Socket 1151. If you’re building or upgrading a desktop and want the best all-round performance, the data favors the i5-7500T due to its Geekbench dominance. If you’re chasing maximum multi-threaded render scores, the i7-4710HQ is the clear winner, despite being an older, end-of-life part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by a full node shrink and a generational leap. The i5-7500T is built on Kaby Lake architecture using Intel’s 14nm process node, while the i7-4710HQ uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22nm process. The i7’s die is massive by comparison: 264 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, though no die size or transistor count is listed for the i5. The smaller process node gives the i5 a significant efficiency advantage, reflected in its 35W TDP versus the i7’s 47W.

Core configuration is where the biggest functional difference lies. Both chips have 4 physical cores, but the i7-4710HQ supports 8 threads via hyper-threading, while the i5-7500T has only 4 threads total. Cache hierarchies are identical per core: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 for each core, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache on both. The base clocks differ—2.70 GHz for the i5 versus 2.50 GHz for the i7—but the i7 boosts higher at 3.50 GHz compared to the i5’s 3.30 GHz.

Memory support is another clear divergence. The i5-7500T uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-4710HQ is limited to DDR3, also dual-channel, with a substantially lower 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. This 50% bandwidth advantage for the i5 likely contributes to its strong Geekbench performance. Both processors offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5 features HD 630 graphics, while the i7 has the older Intel HD 4600. The i5 was released in January 2017 and remains in active production; the i7 launched in March 2014 and is now end-of-life. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-4710HQ has 8 threads from its 4 cores, while the Intel Core i5-7500T has 4 threads from 4 cores.

Q: Why does the i5-7500T win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The i5-7500T scores 13.7% higher in Geekbench multi-core (3062 vs 2694) and 13.8% higher in single-core (1078 vs 947), likely due to its newer Kaby Lake architecture, 14nm process node, and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth versus the i7’s 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Is the i7-4710HQ always faster in Cinebench?

A: Yes, the i7-4710HQ wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23 in both single and multi-core), with leads ranging from 4.5% to 5.4%.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The i5-7500T operates at a 35W TDP, while the i7-4710HQ has a 47W TDP, making the i5 the more power-efficient part.

Q: Which processor is better for a desktop build?

A: The i5-7500T is designed for desktop Socket 1151, while the i7-4710HQ is a mobile BGA 1364 part, so the i5 is the only one suitable for a standard desktop motherboard.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-7500T is 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i5-5575R and 0.6% faster than the AMD Opteron 6344, while the i7-4710HQ is 0.6% faster than the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 and 0.8% faster than the Intel Core i3-7350K.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4710HQ wins in every scenario that resembles Cinebench’s rendering workload. That includes 3D modeling, animation rendering, video transcoding, and any batch processing task that can utilize its 8 threads. The consistent 5.1% multi-core advantage across three generations of the Cinebench test indicates this is a structural benefit, not a fluke. The i7 also wins single-core Cinebench tests, so even lightly threaded rendering tasks see a small improvement. If your primary benchmark is Cinebench, the i7-4710HQ is the definitive choice.

The Intel Core i5-7500T wins in Geekbench-style workloads, which are more representative of everyday desktop computing. This includes web browsing, office productivity, photo editing, and general application responsiveness. The 13.8% single-core Geekbench lead suggests snappier interaction in apps that aren’t heavily threaded. The i5’s higher memory bandwidth and newer architecture give it an edge in memory-latency-sensitive tasks. For a general-purpose desktop PC where rendering is occasional rather than the primary job, the i5-7500T delivers better overall performance.

The thermal envelope also favors the i5-7500T. A 35W TDP versus 47W means lower heat output and easier cooling requirements, which is advantageous for small form factor desktops or silent builds. The i7-4710HQ’s higher TDP is coupled with its mobile design, which implies it was designed for laptops where that power draw was acceptable given its performance ceiling at the time of release. The i5-7500T remains in active production, while the i7-4710HQ is end-of-life, making the i5 the more future-proof option for new builds.