Intel Core i7-1165G7 vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ Comparison

Intel Core i7-7700HQ and Intel Core i7-1165G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors from Intel, but they belong to different generations and design philosophies. The data shows a consistent and decisive performance advantage for the i7-1165G7 across every single benchmark recorded, despite the i7-7700HQ having a higher TDP. The i7-1165G7 wins all 19 head-to-head comparisons, with the i7-7700HQ failing to secure a single victory. This outcome reflects the substantial architectural and process node improvements made over the three-year gap between their respective launches.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 is the superior processor in every measured workload. For users seeking maximum performance in a mobile form factor, the i7-1165G7 is the clear choice. Its lead over the i7-7700HQ ranges from a modest 1.5% in PassMark random string sorting to a dominant 57.5% in PassMark data encryption. The i7-1165G7 also delivers this performance at a lower 28W TDP compared to the 45W TDP of the i7-7700HQ, indicating better efficiency.

The i7-7700HQ, while older, still holds relevance in specific legacy contexts. Given its end-of-life production status and release in early 2017, it may be found in older, more affordable systems. However, from a pure performance standpoint, there is no scenario in the data where the i7-7700HQ comes out ahead. The i7-1165G7 is the recommendation for any new purchase or for users prioritizing performance in applications like Cinebench rendering, Geekbench general-purpose tasks, or PassMark's integer and floating-point math. The i7-7700HQ should only be considered if the user is constrained by the availability of a specific older platform and does not require the higher performance levels demonstrated by its successor.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent distinct architectural eras for Intel. The i7-7700HQ is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, using Intel's 14 nm process node. In contrast, the i7-1165G7 uses the newer Tiger Lake architecture (Tiger Lake-U), fabricated on a 10 nm node. This process shrink is a fundamental factor in the performance gap. The i7-7700HQ has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-1165G7's die is larger at 144 mm², accommodating more transistors for its newer architecture.

The cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-7700HQ features an L1 cache of 64 KB per core, L2 cache of 256 KB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 6 MB. The i7-1165G7 improves on all fronts, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, a substantially larger 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a 12 MB shared L3 cache, doubling the L3 available to the older chip. This increased cache hierarchy allows the i7-1165G7 to store more data closer to the cores, reducing latency and improving performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Other key architectural differences include integrated graphics and PCIe support. The i7-7700HQ comes with Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i7-1165G7 features the more advanced Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. The i7-7700HQ offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-1165G7 provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe standard on the i7-1165G7 offers higher bandwidth per lane, but the i7-7700HQ has more total lanes available. Memory support also differs, with the i7-7700HQ supporting DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7-1165G7 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The performance differential is consistent and significant. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-1165G7 scores 8293 against the i7-7700HQ's 5852, a 29.4% advantage. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is similar, with the i7-1165G7 achieving 1170 versus 826 for the i7-7700HQ, also a 29.4% lead. This pattern holds in older Cinebench versions; the i7-1165G7 leads by 29.5% in both multi-core and single-core R15 and R20 tests.

Geekbench results show a wider margin in single-core performance. The i7-1165G7 scores 1578 compared to 1082 for the i7-7700HQ, a 31.4% difference. In multi-core Geekbench, the i7-1165G7 scores 4467 versus 3601, a 19.4% lead. This suggests the i7-1165G7's architectural improvements are particularly beneficial for single-threaded tasks.

PassMark tests reveal the most extreme differences. Data encryption shows the i7-1165G7 scoring 5561 against 2366 for the i7-7700HQ, a massive 57.5% advantage, likely reflecting new instruction set extensions. Find prime numbers is another area of significant divergence, with the i7-1165G7 scoring 46 versus 22, a 52.2% lead. Integer math also favors the i7-1165G7 decisively, with a score of 33349 against 22143, a 33.6% difference. The smallest lead is in random string sorting, where the i7-1165G7 scores 12698 versus 12512, a mere 1.5% advantage. Even in this closest contest, the newer processor still wins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i7-7700HQ has a base clock of 2.80 GHz, which is identical to the i7-1165G7's base clock of 2.80 GHz. However, the boost clock differs significantly, with the i7-7700HQ reaching 3.80 GHz while the i7-1165G7 boosts up to 4.70 GHz. This higher boost clock is a primary driver of the i7-1165G7's single-core performance advantage.

The TDP is a notable differentiator, with the i7-7700HQ rated at 45W and the i7-1165G7 at a lower 28W. This lower TDP makes the i7-1165G7 more suitable for thinner and lighter laptops, while still delivering superior performance. The socket types also differ, with the i7-7700HQ using Intel BGA 1440 and the i7-1165G7 using Intel BGA 1449, meaning they are not interchangeable.

The process node difference is 14 nm for the i7-7700HQ versus 10 nm for the i7-1165G7. The release dates are also distinct, with the i7-7700HQ launching in January 2017 and the i7-1165G7 in September 2020. The launch MSRP for the i7-7700HQ was $378, while the i7-1165G7 had a launch MSRP of $426. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads like video rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-1165G7 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8293 compared to the i7-7700HQ's 5852, a 29.4% advantage. The lead is consistent in Cinebench R20, where the i7-1165G7 scores 3483 versus 2457.

Q: Is the i7-7700HQ better for any task based on the benchmark data?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-1165G7 winning all 19 benchmark comparisons, including every passmark test, geekbench test, and cinebench test. The i7-7700HQ has zero wins in the recorded data.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i7-7700HQ has a TDP of 45W, while the i7-1165G7 has a lower TDP of 28W. This means the i7-1165G7 is designed to operate within a lower power envelope, which can be beneficial for battery life and thermal management in portable devices.

Q: What is the difference in their maximum clock speeds?

A: Both CPUs have the same base clock of 2.80 GHz. However, the i7-7700HQ has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i7-1165G7 can boost up to 4.70 GHz. The higher boost clock contributes to the i7-1165G7's superior single-core performance.

Q: Do they use the same amount of cache memory?

A: No. The i7-7700HQ has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1165G7 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with a larger 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The data provides a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-1165G7 is the winner in every single workload category measured. There are no benchmark wins for the i7-7700HQ. The i7-1165G7's largest margins come in data encryption (57.5% lead) and find prime numbers (52.2% lead), indicating a substantial advantage in security-related and mathematical compute tasks. Its smallest lead is in random string sorting (1.5%), but it still leads.

For users, this means the i7-1165G7 is the better choice for all computing scenarios represented in the benchmark data, from general productivity (Geekbench) to content creation (Cinebench) and heavy computational tasks (PassMark integer and floating-point math). The i7-7700HQ, due to its age, would only be selected if the user is working with an existing system that uses the BGA 1440 socket and cannot be upgraded. The i7-1165G7's higher performance, combined with its lower TDP, makes it the superior option for any new system build or upgrade path that supports the BGA 1449 socket.