Intel Core i7-3770 vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3770 and Intel Core i7-7700HQ represent two distinct generations of Intel mobile and desktop computing, separated by nearly five years of architectural evolution. The data shows a clear overall winner in the i7-7700HQ, which claims 13 benchmark victories against the i7-3770’s 6, yet the older desktop chip manages to secure several notable specialty wins. The 7700HQ’s average benchmark score of 9493 places it just 2.2% behind the 3770’s 9706 average, a surprisingly narrow margin that underscores how much the mobile part gains from its newer process node and IPC improvements. The following analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architectural divergences, and specification differences to determine which processor holds the edge in various workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-7700HQ dominates the Cinebench suite across the board, with consistent margins around 7%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 7700HQ scores 589 against the 3770’s 549, a 6.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 83 versus 77, a 7.2% lead. This trend continues through R20 and R23, where the 7700HQ posts 2457 versus 2289 in R20 multicore (6.8% ahead) and 5852 versus 5450 in R23 multicore (6.9% ahead). The single-core R23 result of 826 versus 769 represents another 6.9% gap. These consistent margins indicate that the 7700HQ’s architectural advantages translate evenly across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results reveal the most dramatic disparity, with the 7700HQ absolutely crushing the 3770 in both tests. The multicore score of 3601 versus 2705 represents a massive 24.9% advantage, while the single-core score of 1082 versus 816 shows a 24.6% gap. This suggests the 7700HQ’s newer Kaby Lake architecture provides substantially better per-clock performance in general-purpose computing tasks, far exceeding what the modest clock speed differences would suggest. The 7700HQ’s lower 2.80 GHz base clock compared to the 3770’s 3.40 GHz makes this Geekbench dominance particularly striking, indicating that IPC improvements, not clock speed, drive this result.

The Passmark suite shows a more balanced picture, with each processor claiming victories in different sub-tests. The 3770 wins data compression decisively, scoring 105424 against 97136, an 8.5% advantage. It also takes find prime numbers with a commanding 31.8% lead (29 versus 22), random string sorting by 12.4% (14060 versus 12512), and integer math by 3.6% (22945 versus 22143). The 3770 even edges out the 7700HQ in single-thread Passmark, scoring 2073 versus 2045, a slim 1.4% margin. These wins suggest that the older Ivy Bridge architecture excels in certain integer-heavy and memory-latency-sensitive workloads, possibly due to its higher base clock and different cache hierarchy.

Conversely, the 7700HQ dominates Passmark’s floating-point and encryption tests. It leads floating-point math by 15% (13678 versus 11628), data encryption by 21.1% (2366 versus 1866), and extended instructions by 28% (6218 versus 4476). The 7700HQ also wins the multithread test (6881 versus 6414, 6.8% ahead) and physics (489 versus 458, 6.3% ahead). The extended instructions result is particularly telling, as it indicates the newer architecture’s support for advanced SIMD instructions that the Ivy Bridge core lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770 has an average benchmark score of 9706, while the Intel Core i7-7700HQ scores 9493. The 3770 is 2.2% ahead, and the 7700HQ’s nearest rival data shows it trailing the AMD EPYC 7402P by 0.4% while the 3770 leads that same EPYC part by 1.9%.

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

A: The 7700HQ wins most single-thread tests, including Cinebench R23 single-core (826 versus 769, 6.9% ahead) and Geekbench single-core (1082 versus 816, 24.6% ahead). However, the 3770 wins Passmark single-thread with a score of 2073 versus 2045, a 1.4% margin.

Q: In which workloads does the older i7-3770 outperform the newer i7-7700HQ?

A: The 3770 wins Passmark data compression (105424 versus 97136, 8.5% ahead), find prime numbers (29 versus 22, 31.8% ahead), random string sorting (14060 versus 12512, 12.4% ahead), integer math (22945 versus 22143, 3.6% ahead), and single-thread (2073 versus 2045, 1.4% ahead).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench multicore, where the 7700HQ leads by 24.9% (3601 versus 2705). The second largest is Passmark extended instructions, where the 7700HQ leads by 28%, followed by Geekbench single-core at 24.6%.

Q: How does the 7700HQ’s mobile design affect its benchmark positioning?

A: Despite being a 45W mobile part, the 7700HQ achieves a 65th percentile ranking among all CPUs, nearly matching the 3770’s 66th percentile. Its average score of 9493 places it close to the AMD EPYC 7402P (9529, 0.4% behind) and above the Xeon Platinum 8180 (9406, 0.9% ahead).

Q: Are there any tests where the two processors are nearly identical?

A: The closest result is Passmark single-thread, where the 3770 scores 2073 and the 7700HQ scores 2045, a 1.4% difference. The Passmark integer math test is also close, with the 3770 leading 22945 versus 22143, a 3.6% gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural eras. The i7-3770 uses Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process node, while the i7-7700HQ employs the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm node. This process shrink allowed Intel to pack the newer design into a 126 mm² die size, compared to the 3770’s 160 mm² die, despite the 3770 carrying 1,400 million transistors versus the 7700HQ’s unlisted transistor count. The smaller node contributes to the 7700HQ’s significantly lower 45W TDP versus the 3770’s 77W TDP, a critical advantage for mobile use.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both processors share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 3770 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache while the 7700HQ has only 6 MB. This 2 MB L3 deficit for the newer chip is partially offset by architectural improvements in the Kaby Lake core that improve cache efficiency and prefetching. The 3770’s larger cache likely contributes to its wins in data compression and random string sorting, where larger working sets benefit from more on-die storage.

The integrated graphics differ as well, with the 3770 featuring Intel HD 4000 and the 7700HQ featuring Intel HD Graphics 630. While the FACT PACK does not include iGPU benchmark scores, the generational leap from Ivy Bridge to Kaby Lake typically represents a substantial upgrade in media capabilities and shader performance. The 7700HQ also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the 3770 is limited to DDR3, offering more flexibility for system builders.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is clock speed. The 3770 runs at a 3.40 GHz base clock with a 3.90 GHz boost, while the 7700HQ operates at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The 3770’s 0.6 GHz base clock advantage and 0.1 GHz boost advantage explain its single-thread Passmark win, but the 7700HQ’s superior IPC overcomes this in most other tests.

Memory support differs significantly. The 3770 only supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The 7700HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also on a dual-channel bus, though its memory bandwidth is not listed. The newer chip’s DDR4 support allows for higher memory speeds and potentially lower latency, which likely contributes to its Geekbench dominance.

Socket and form factor represent the largest practical difference. The 3770 uses Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part, while the 7700HQ uses Intel BGA 1440 and is soldered for mobile use. This means the 3770 is upgradeable and replaceable, while the 7700HQ is permanently attached to a laptop motherboard. The 3770’s launch MSRP was $278, while the 7700HQ launched at $378, reflecting the premium typically associated with mobile quad-core parts.

Other differences include production status (both are end-of-life), multiplier unlocking (neither is unlocked), and part numbers (SR0PK for the 3770, SR32Q for the 7700HQ). Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, and neither supports ECC memory. The 3770 was released on 2012-04-28, while the 7700HQ arrived on 2017-01-02.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the i7-7700HQ for general-purpose computing and modern workloads. Its 24.9% Geekbench multicore lead and 24.6% single-core lead indicate substantially better real-world performance for everyday tasks, productivity applications, and web browsing. The 7700HQ’s wins in Cinebench across all versions demonstrate that rendering and content creation workloads also benefit from the newer architecture, with consistent 6.8-7.2% margins.

The i7-3770 retains value in specific niche workloads. Its 31.8% lead in find prime numbers, 12.4% lead in random string sorting, and 8.5% lead in data compression suggest that certain integer-heavy, memory-latency-sensitive tasks run better on the older chip. Its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 2.80 GHz likely explains these wins, as those workloads may not scale with the newer architecture’s IPC improvements.

For laptop buyers, the 7700HQ is the obvious choice. Its 45W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light designs, while the 3770’s 77W TDP requires desktop cooling. The 7700HQ’s support for DDR4 memory and newer integrated graphics further cement its position for mobile users. Desktop enthusiasts with legacy Socket 1155 motherboards might prefer the 3770 for its upgrade path and larger L3 cache, but the data shows they would sacrifice significant performance in most modern applications. The 7700HQ’s 65th percentile ranking versus the 3770’s 66th percentile shows they are closely matched overall, but the 7700HQ’s wins in the most representative benchmarks make it the stronger recommendation for anyone who needs a capable quad-core processor today.