Intel Core i7-4770HQ vs Intel Core i7-6700TE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-6700TE and Intel Core i7-4770HQ are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they represent different eras of Intel design. The 6700TE is a Skylake-era desktop chip with a 35W TDP, while the 4770HQ is a Haswell-generation mobile part rated at 47W. Benchmark results show a clear, if narrow, pattern: the 6700TE dominates in Cinebench tests across the board, while the 4770HQ posts a significant win in Geekbench multi-core. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the 6700TE at 1666 and the 4770HQ at 1660, placing both in the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided results come from the Cinebench suite, where the Core i7-6700TE wins all six tests with a consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 6700TE scores 5273 against the 4770HQ’s 5106, a 3.3% advantage. The same 3.3% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (2214 vs 2144) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (531 vs 514). Single-core performance tells the same story: the 6700TE leads by 2.8% in Cinebench R15 (74 vs 72) and by 3.3% in both R20 (312 vs 302) and R23 (744 vs 720). These are not overwhelming victories, but they are uniform—the 6700TE edges ahead in every rendering-oriented workload.

Geekbench tells a different story. In Geekbench single-core, the 6700TE wins again, scoring 1028 versus 1013, a 1.5% margin. But in Geekbench multi-core, the 4770HQ flips the script with a decisive 3407 score against the 6700TE’s 3154. That is a 7.4% swing in favor of the older mobile chip, and it is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. This suggests that the 4770HQ’s memory subsystem or scheduling behavior gives it an edge in this particular synthetic workload, despite losing all Cinebench tests.

Overall, the 6700TE wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks. The 4770HQ’s sole victory is substantial, but it cannot offset the consistent Cinebench dominance of its rival. The average scores are close enough (1666 vs 1660) that neither chip is dramatically faster in aggregate, yet the distribution of wins is heavily skewed toward the Skylake part.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i7-6700TE is the better all-around performer for CPU-bound tasks. It wins every Cinebench test—multi-core and single-core—by roughly 3%, and it also takes Geekbench single-core. If your workflow relies on rendering, encoding, or any application that scales with Cinebench-style performance, the 6700TE is the clear choice. Its 35W TDP also makes it more efficient than the 4770HQ’s 47W rating, which is relevant for compact desktop builds.

The 4770HQ is not without merit. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 3407 is 7.4% higher than the 6700TE’s, indicating that in certain memory-sensitive or parallel synthetic tests, it can pull ahead. However, this single win does not compensate for losing 7 of 8 comparisons. The 4770HQ is also an end-of-life mobile part with a 22nm process node, while the 6700TE is active on 14nm. For anyone choosing between these two, the 6700TE is the safer bet unless the specific Geekbench multi-core pattern is known to matter for their software.

The percentile data reinforces the parity: both chips sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs. Their nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7600T (avg score 1664, delta 0.1% from the 6700TE) and the Intel Xeon E-2124 (avg score 1658, delta 0.5%). The 4770HQ is itself a nearest rival to the 6700TE, with a delta of 0.4%, confirming that these two are essentially peers in overall benchmark averages.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core i7-6700TE is built on Skylake architecture using a 14nm process, while the Core i7-4770HQ uses Haswell architecture (codename Crystalwell) on a 22nm node. The 4770HQ’s die is 264 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors; the 6700TE’s transistor count and die size are not listed.

Cache configurations differ notably. The 6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4770HQ has 6 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The larger L3 on the 6700TE likely contributes to its Cinebench wins, though the Geekbench multi-core result complicates that narrative.

Memory support is another differentiator. The 6700TE supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The 4770HQ uses DDR3, also dual-channel, with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The 6700TE’s higher memory bandwidth aligns with its better rendering scores, but the 4770HQ’s Geekbench multi-core win suggests its memory controller performs differently in specific workloads.

Both chips have 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) and lack ECC memory support. Neither is multiplier-unlocked. Integrated graphics differ: the 6700TE has HD Graphics 530, while the 4770HQ features Intel HD 5200 (Iris Pro-class). The 4770HQ’s integrated GPU is generally considered more capable, but no benchmark data in the pack compares them directly.

The sockets are incompatible: the 6700TE uses Intel Socket 1151, while the 4770HQ uses Intel BGA 1364 (soldered). The 6700TE is a desktop-market part and remains active in production, whereas the 4770HQ is a mobile-market chip that is end-of-life. Release dates reflect this gap: the 6700TE launched in late August 2015, while the 4770HQ came just over a year earlier in mid-2014.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: Both chips boost to 3.40 GHz. The 6700TE has a base clock of 2.40 GHz, while the 4770HQ has a base clock of 2.20 GHz.

Q: Is the Core i7-6700TE faster in all Cinebench tests?

A: Yes. The 6700TE wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23 in both multi-core and single-core) with deltas ranging from 2.8% to 3.3% over the 4770HQ.

Q: Where does the 4770HQ beat the 6700TE?

A: The 4770HQ wins only Geekbench multi-core, scoring 3407 against 3154, a 7.4% advantage. It loses Geekbench single-core by 1.5%.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. Their cache hierarchies differ, however, with the 6700TE offering 8 MB L3 versus 6 MB on the 4770HQ.

Q: What are the power ratings for each chip?

A: The 6700TE has a 35W TDP, while the 4770HQ has a 47W TDP. The 6700TE is also built on a smaller 14nm process versus the 4770HQ’s 22nm.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The 6700TE is listed as Active, while the 4770HQ is End-of-life. The 4770HQ also uses a different socket (BGA 1364) compared to the 6700TE’s Socket 1151.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-6700TE is the pick for rendering and compute-heavy workloads. Its 3.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (5273 vs 5106) and R20 multi-core (2214 vs 2144) shows a consistent edge in threaded applications. Single-core performance is also better, with a 3.3% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core (744 vs 720). The 6700TE’s DDR4 support and 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a modern foundation, and its 35W TDP makes it suitable for power-conscious desktop systems. It also has a larger 8 MB L3 cache, which helps in cache-sensitive workloads.

The Core i7-4770HQ has one clear territory: Geekbench multi-core. Its 3407 score outpaces the 6700TE by 7.4%, making it the better choice if your specific software mimics that benchmark’s memory access patterns or scheduling behavior. The 4770HQ also offers Intel HD 5200 integrated graphics, which is a higher-tier iGPU than the 6700TE’s HD Graphics 530, though no graphics benchmarks are provided. Its mobile BGA form factor means it was designed for laptops and all-in-one systems, not socketed desktop upgrades.

For every other metric, the 6700TE wins. It is faster in all Cinebench iterations, faster in Geekbench single-core, more energy-efficient, and built on a newer process. The 4770HQ’s sole victory is impressive but isolated. A buyer choosing between these two should default to the 6700TE unless their application is known to favor the 4770HQ’s Geekbench multi-core behavior. The 6700TE’s active production status and desktop socket also give it a longevity advantage over the end-of-life mobile part.