Intel Core i7-10750H vs Intel Core i7-7700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700K and Intel Core i7-10750H occupy different corners of the Intel lineup, yet their benchmark profiles overlap more than their market segments suggest. The 7700K is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, while the 10750H is a mobile processor with a locked multiplier. The data shows a clear division of labor: the 10750H dominates multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the 7700K claims a narrow but consistent victory in single-threaded tests. Across 19 head-to-head benchmarks, the 10750H wins 16, while the 7700K wins 3. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with the 7700K posting an average benchmark score of 13291 and the 10750H at 13024.

Where Each One Wins

The 10750H is the clear winner in any workload that scales with core count or sustained throughput. Its six cores and twelve threads outnumber the 7700K's four cores and eight threads, and the benchmark results reflect that advantage consistently. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 10750H scores 9718 against the 7700K's 8189, a 15.7% margin. The same pattern appears across PassMark's compute-heavy tests: floating point math shows the 10750H at 25070 versus 18741 (25.2% ahead), integer math at 39730 versus 30553 (23.1% ahead), and data compression at 167213 versus 136852 (18.2% ahead). The 10750H also wins in data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, random string sorting, and multithreaded performance. Its PassMark multithread score of 11616 beats the 7700K's 9627 by 17.1%.

The 7700K's wins are narrower but telling. In Geekbench single-core, the 7700K scores 1547 against the 10750H's 1417, a 9.2% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the 7700K scores 2708 versus 2625, a 3.2% edge. These are the only three benchmarks where the desktop part wins. The 7700K also holds a higher base clock of 4.20 GHz compared to the 10750H's 2.60 GHz, which helps explain its single-thread edge despite the 10750H's higher 5.00 GHz boost clock. The 7700K's boost of 4.50 GHz is actually lower than the 10750H's boost, but the desktop part sustains higher clocks across fewer cores, which benefits latency-sensitive single-thread tasks.

The Verdict

The data points to the 10750H as the superior processor for almost all workloads, particularly those that use more than four threads. Its 15.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and its 17.1% lead in PassMark multithread make it the better choice for rendering, video encoding, and any parallel compute task. The 10750H also wins in Geekbench multi-core with 5574 versus 5395, a 3.2% margin. The 7700K is the better option only for users who prioritize single-thread performance above all else, where it leads by 9.2% in Geekbench single-core and 3.2% in PassMark single-thread. The 7700K's desktop socket and unlocked multiplier suggest overclocking potential, but the benchmark data does not include overclocked results. For a locked comparison, the 10750H is the stronger all-around performer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the 10750H comes in PassMark floating point math, where it scores 25070 against the 7700K's 18741, a 25.2% advantage. This is followed by integer math, where the 10750H leads 39730 to 30553, a 23.1% margin. The 10750H also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 20.5% (39 versus 31) and random string sorting by 19.6% (21416 versus 17208). Data compression shows an 18.2% lead for the 10750H (167213 versus 136852), and multithread performance trails at 17.1% (11616 versus 9627). The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 15.7% to 15.9% lead for the 10750H across R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core tests. Geekbench multi-core is closer, with the 10750H winning by only 3.2% (5574 versus 5395). PassMark physics also favors the 10750H by 6.4% (700 versus 655).

The 7700K's largest win is in Geekbench single-core, where it beats the 10750H by 9.2% (1547 versus 1417). Its PassMark single-thread win is smaller at 3.2% (2708 versus 2625). Notably, the 7700K loses in every Cinebench benchmark, including single-core tests where it trails by 15.7% to 15.9%. The 7700K's 4.20 GHz base clock does not translate into Cinebench single-core success, suggesting the 10750H's newer architecture or higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz plays a larger role in that specific test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads like video rendering?

A: The 10750H wins every multi-threaded benchmark in the data. It leads by 15.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (9718 versus 8189) and by 17.1% in PassMark multithread (11616 versus 9627).

Q: Does the 7700K have any advantage at all?

A: Yes, in single-threaded tests. The 7700K wins Geekbench single-core by 9.2% (1547 versus 1417) and PassMark single-thread by 3.2% (2708 versus 2625). These are its only three wins out of 19 benchmarks.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The 7700K has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 10750H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 10750H also has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared versus 8 MB shared on the 7700K.

Q: Which chip has the higher clock speed?

A: The 7700K has a higher base clock of 4.20 GHz versus the 10750H's 2.60 GHz. The 10750H has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the 7700K's 4.50 GHz.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. The 7700K has an average benchmark score of 13291, and the 10750H scores 13024.

Q: What about memory bandwidth?

A: The 10750H has a higher memory bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s compared to the 7700K's 38.4 GB/s. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The 7700K is based on Kaby Lake, while the 10750H uses Comet Lake-H. Both are built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The 10750H has a newer architecture generation, listed as Core i7 (Comet Lake-H), compared to the 7700K's Core i7 (Kaby Lake). The 10750H's codename is Comet Lake-H, while the 7700K is simply Kaby Lake.

The cache hierarchy differs in L3 capacity: the 7700K has 8 MB shared L3, while the 10750H has 12 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The 10750H's larger L3 cache aligns with its higher core count, providing more room for shared data. The 7700K is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, while the 10750H is a mobile part with a locked multiplier. The 7700K uses Intel Socket 1151, while the 10750H uses Intel BGA 1440. The integrated graphics differ as well: the 7700K has HD 630, while the 10750H has UHD Graphics. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode and have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The 10750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, exceeding the 7700K's 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the 7700K runs at 4.20 GHz, while the 10750H runs at 2.60 GHz. Boost clocks are closer but still distinct: 4.50 GHz for the 7700K and 5.00 GHz for the 10750H. Thermal design power (TDP) favors the mobile part at 45 watts, while the desktop 7700K draws 91 watts. The 7700K's socket is Intel Socket 1151, while the 10750H uses Intel BGA 1440. The 7700K has an unlocked multiplier, which the 10750H lacks. L3 cache is 8 MB on the 7700K and 12 MB on the 10750H. Memory bandwidth is higher on the 10750H at 46.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. The 7700K's part number is SR33A, and the 10750H's is SRH8Q. Release dates differ, with the 7700K launching in January 2017 and the 10750H in April 2020. Both processors are listed as Active in production status.