Intel Core i7-3770 vs Intel Core i7-4790 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a remarkably one-sided story. Across all 19 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i7-4790 wins every single one. The margins, however, vary wildly by workload, revealing where the architectural gap between Haswell and Ivy Bridge truly matters.

The most dramatic splits come from Geekbench. In the multicore test, the i7-4790 scores 3927 against 2705 for the i7-3770, a 45.2% advantage. Single-core Geekbench shows a similarly large gap: 1164 versus 816, a 42.6% delta. That is the single biggest multi-core and single-core delta in the entire comparison, and it speaks to improvements that go beyond raw clock speed.

Cinebench results are more consistent, hovering around the 13% mark. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-4790 scores 621 versus 549, a 13.1% win. The single-core R15 test shows 87 against 77, a 13% margin. R20 multicore shows 2591 versus 2289, a 13.2% delta, while R20 single-core lands at 365 versus 322, a 13.4% lead. R23 multicore continues the pattern: 6171 versus 5450, a 13.2% difference, with R23 single-core at 871 versus 769, a 13.3% margin.

PassMark tests display a broader spread. The extended instructions test is the second-largest victory: 6835 versus 4476, a 52.7% delta. That is a massive gap for a synthetic instruction-focused workload. Integer math shows a 13.9% advantage (26129 versus 22945), floating point math a 12.7% edge (13104 versus 11628), and find prime numbers a 10.3% win (32 versus 29). Data encryption sits at 9.1% (2035 versus 1866), while physics shows an 8.7% lead (498 versus 458). Data compression is closer at 4% (109623 versus 105424), and random string sorting is tighter still at 5.2% (14790 versus 14060). Single-thread PassMark shows a 7.5% advantage (2228 versus 2073), matching the multithread test, which also shows 13.3% (7264 versus 6414).

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this dominance: the i7-4790 averages 10556, while the i7-3770 averages 9706. Both CPUs sit at the 66th percentile among all recorded processors, but the absolute gap in average score is 850 points.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4790 wins every measured category, so the practical question is not which CPU wins but where the wins are largest and smallest. The largest deltas, above 40%, appear in Geekbench tests and extended instructions. These workloads appear to heavily reward the Haswell architecture's newer execution resources and instruction handling. The 52.7% extended instructions win and the 42.6% Geekbench single-core gap suggest that the i7-4790 is disproportionately better in workloads that use modern SIMD or complex instruction paths.

The smallest deltas, between 4% and 9%, appear in data compression, random string sorting, single-thread PassMark, physics, and data encryption. These are workloads where the i7-3770 remains competitive, likely because they do not fully stress the architectural improvements. Data compression at 4% and random string sorting at 5.2% are the narrowest margins recorded.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the i7-4790 delivers a consistent 13% improvement. For general productivity and mixed workloads, the PassMark suite shows gains between 7.5% and 13.9%. The i7-3770 has no category where it leads, but its relative strength is in memory-latency-sensitive or branch-heavy tasks like compression and sorting, where the architectural gap narrows considerably.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process and contain 1,400 million transistors, but the die sizes differ. The i7-4790 uses a 177 mm² die under the Haswell architecture, while the i7-3770 uses a 160 mm² die under Ivy Bridge. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, with identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.

Clock speeds favor the i7-4790. It runs a 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.00 GHz boost, while the i7-3770 runs 3.40 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. That is a 200 MHz base advantage and a 100 MHz boost advantage, but the benchmark deltas, especially in Geekbench and extended instructions, exceed what clock speed alone would explain. The architectural improvements in Haswell clearly contribute.

Thermal design power is lower on the older chip: 77 W for the i7-3770 versus 84 W for the i7-4790. Both use dual-channel DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ. The i7-4790 carries Intel HD 4600, while the i7-3770 has Intel HD 4000. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life desktop parts. The sockets differ as well: the i7-4790 uses Intel Socket 1150, the i7-3770 uses Intel Socket 1155.

Release dates show the generational gap: the i7-3770 launched in April 2012, and the i7-4790 followed in April 2014. The launch MSRP for the i7-4790 was $312, while the i7-3770 launched at $278.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i7-4790 leads in every multi-threaded test. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 6171 versus 5450, a 13.2% advantage. PassMark multithread shows 7264 versus 6414, also a 13.3% lead. Geekbench multicore shows the largest gap at 45.2% (3927 versus 2705).

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The i7-4790 wins all single-threaded tests. Geekbench single-core shows a 42.6% lead (1164 versus 816), Cinebench R23 single-core shows 13.3% (871 versus 769), and PassMark single-thread shows 7.5% (2228 versus 2073).

Q: Are the cache sizes the same?

A: Yes. Both CPUs have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory?

A: Yes. Both support dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Is the i7-4790 compatible with the same motherboard as the i7-3770?

A: No. The i7-4790 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-3770 uses Intel Socket 1155.

Q: Which CPU has a lower power draw?

A: The i7-3770 has a lower TDP at 77 W, compared to 84 W for the i7-4790.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4790 | Intel Core i7-3770 |

|---|---|---|

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 77 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |

| Die size | 177 mm² | 160 mm² |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Release date | April 2014 | April 2012 |

| Launch MSRP | $312 | $278 |

| Part number | SR1QF | SR0PK |

Shared specifications include 4 cores, 8 threads, 22 nm process, 1,400 million transistors, identical L1/L2/L3 cache sizes, dual-channel DDR3 memory support, 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, locked multipliers, and end-of-life production status.