Intel Core i7-3770S vs Intel Core i7-4760HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i7-4760HQ across every benchmark in the comparison set. The i7-4760HQ wins all six head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 1.9% to 2.7%. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-4760HQ scores 76 against the i7-3770S's 74, a 2.7% difference. The smallest margins are 1.9%, seen in both Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R20 single-core.

Multi-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-4760HQ posts 539 versus 529 for the i7-3770S, a 1.9% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 2249 against 2205, a 2% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 5355 for the i7-4760HQ and 5251 for the i7-3770S, again a 2% delta. These are not dramatic separations, but they are uniform. The i7-4760HQ's wins are not concentrated in one workload type; they appear across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

Single-core performance is also consistently in favor of the i7-4760HQ. Beyond the R15 result, Cinebench R20 single-core shows 317 versus 311, a 1.9% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core records 756 against 741, a 2% advantage. Across all six comparisons, the average margin is roughly 2%. The i7-3770S never closes the gap in any test, though the differences are small enough that real-world application performance would likely feel similar in many tasks.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the narrow overall separation. The i7-4760HQ carries an average benchmark score of 1549, while the i7-3770S sits at 1498. That is a difference of roughly 3.4%, which is slightly larger than the individual Cinebench deltas because the i7-3770S's Geekbench scores are included in its average and those scores are comparatively low. The i7-3770S has two Geekbench results in its record: 2220 for multi-core and 655 for single-core. The i7-4760HQ has no Geekbench results recorded, so its average is derived entirely from the six Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4760HQ wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, so a use-case split based on benchmark wins is one-sided. However, the margin analysis reveals where the i7-4760HQ is relatively stronger. Its best result is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 2.7% delta is the largest of any test. This suggests the i7-4760HQ has a slight edge in lightly threaded workloads, such as older applications or tasks that depend on a single primary thread.

For multi-threaded scenarios, the i7-4760HQ also leads, but by a smaller margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core all show a 1.9% to 2% delta. This indicates that in heavily parallel workloads, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, the two processors are nearly equivalent. The i7-3770S's higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the i7-4760HQ's 2.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, do not translate into a performance win. The i7-4760HQ's architectural advantages appear to offset the clock deficit.

The i7-3770S does have a larger L3 cache, 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared for the i7-4760HQ, but that does not produce a benchmark victory in any recorded test. The i7-3770S's Geekbench scores, which are only present for that chip, do not have a corresponding i7-4760HQ result for direct comparison. For users focused on the Cinebench suite, the i7-4760HQ is the consistent pick. For users relying on Geekbench, the database lacks a direct comparison for this pair.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i7-4760HQ is based on Haswell, with the codename Crystalwell, while the i7-3770S is based on Ivy Bridge. Both are built on the same 22 nm process node and both use 1,400 million transistors. The die sizes differ notably: the i7-4760HQ measures 264 mm², while the i7-3770S is 160 mm². The larger die for the i7-4760HQ reflects its integrated graphics configuration, not a core count difference, since both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Cache configurations differ in L3 capacity. The i7-4760HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3770S has 8 MB. Both have the same per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and per-core L2 cache of 256 KB. The larger L3 on the i7-3770S does not result in a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks.

Clock speeds favor the i7-3770S on paper. Its base clock is 3.10 GHz and boost clock is 3.90 GHz, compared to the i7-4760HQ's 2.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite the 1 GHz base clock gap, the i7-4760HQ wins every recorded benchmark. This points to a combination of architectural efficiency and other factors, such as the i7-4760HQ's lower TDP of 47 watts versus the i7-3770S's 65 watts. The i7-4760HQ achieves higher scores while drawing less power, as indicated by the TDP figures.

Memory support is similar: both use DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus. The i7-4760HQ has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3770S has no bandwidth figure in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ significantly. The i7-4760HQ uses Intel HD 5200, while the i7-3770S uses Intel HD 4000. The i7-4760HQ's graphics are part of the Crystalwell design, which contributes to its larger die size. The i7-3770S, as a desktop part, uses the older HD 4000 GPU. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either.

Socket and market placement also separate the two. The i7-4760HQ uses Intel BGA 1364 and is classified as a mobile processor. The i7-3770S uses Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop processor. The i7-4760HQ is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i7-3770S has no production status recorded. The release dates show the i7-3770S launched earlier, in April 2012, while the i7-4760HQ arrived in January 2014.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 76, 317, and 756 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core, respectively, against 74, 311, and 741 for the i7-3770S. The deltas range from 1.9% to 2.7%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-4760HQ leads in all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 539, 2249, and 5355 in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, versus 529, 2205, and 5251 for the i7-3770S. Each margin is between 1.9% and 2%.

Q: Does the i7-3770S have more cache?

A: Yes. The i7-3770S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4760HQ has 6 MB. Both have the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes: 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The i7-4760HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, while the i7-3770S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i7-4760HQ achieves higher benchmark scores despite the lower TDP.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The i7-3770S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i7-4760HQ has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. Despite this, the i7-4760HQ wins every recorded benchmark.

Q: What are the integrated graphics on each processor?

A: The i7-4760HQ uses Intel HD 5200, while the i7-3770S uses Intel HD 4000. Both chips are built on the 22 nm process node and have 4 cores and 8 threads.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i7-4760HQ as the better performer of the two. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins between 1.9% and 2.7%. The i7-4760HQ also carries a higher average benchmark score, 1549 versus 1498, and sits at the 38th percentile among all CPUs, matching the i7-3770S's percentile rank. The i7-4760HQ achieves this with a lower TDP of 47 watts, compared to 65 watts for the i7-3770S, and with a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz against 3.10 GHz.

The i7-3770S's advantages are limited to specifications that do not translate into wins: a larger 8 MB L3 cache, higher clock speeds, and an earlier release date. None of these produce a benchmark victory. The i7-3770S does have recorded Geekbench scores, with 2220 for multi-core and 655 for single-core, but there is no matching Geekbench result for the i7-4760HQ to enable a direct comparison.

For a mobile platform, the i7-4760HQ is the clear choice based on the data. It offers better Cinebench performance across the board, a more modern integrated GPU in Intel HD 5200, and a lower TDP. For a desktop platform, the i7-3770S remains a viable part, but it loses to the i7-4760HQ in every recorded test. The i7-3770S has no recorded wins, so there is no benchmark-based scenario where it outperforms the i7-4760HQ. Users selecting between these two should favor the i7-4760HQ if performance is the sole criterion.