Intel Core i7-6700T vs Intel Core i7-7820HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits cleanly here. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i7-6700T takes only one. If you need maximum single-threaded performance or consistent Cinebench results, the i7-7820HQ is the clear pick. It leads by 2.3% to 2.4% across all six Cinebench tests, which is modest but consistent. Its single-core Geekbench lead is much larger at 7.7%, making it the better choice for lightly threaded workloads.

The i7-6700T, however, wins Geekbench multicore by 4%, scoring 3906 against 3748. That is a real reversal, and it means the desktop chip is not simply obsolete. If your workload leans on Geekbench's multicore metric, the i7-6700T is the better option. It also runs at a lower 35 W TDP versus 45 W, which matters for compact or passively cooled builds, though the i7-7820HQ is a mobile part designed for laptops and the i7-6700T is a desktop part for Socket 1151.

Both CPUs sit at the 43rd percentile among all recorded processors, and their average benchmark scores are close: 1940 for the i7-7820HQ and 1918 for the i7-6700T. The i7-7820HQ's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9850HL (average score 1941, within 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945, 0.2% higher), while the i7-6700T trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (1916, 0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i3-10305T (1922, 0.2% higher). In short, these two are peers in overall performance, but they diverge in specific tests.

Architecture Differences

Both chips use Intel's 14 nm process node and share the same core and thread counts: 4 cores and 8 threads. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 is 256 KB per core on both, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. They also both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, lack ECC support, and expose PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The architectural split comes from generation and platform. The i7-7820HQ is Kaby Lake, specifically Kaby Lake-H, built for mobile systems on the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Its integrated graphics are Intel HD Graphics 630. The i7-6700T is Skylake, a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1151, and uses HD Graphics 530. The die size is recorded only for the i7-7820HQ at 126 mm²; the i7-6700T's die size is not listed.

Memory bandwidth is recorded only for the i7-6700T at 34.1 GB/s, but the i7-7820HQ has no listed figure. The i7-7820HQ was released in January 2017 with a launch MSRP of $378, while the i7-6700T launched in August 2015 with a launch MSRP of $303. Both are end-of-life parts. The i7-7820HQ carries part number SR32N; the i7-6700T carries SR2BUSR2L3.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-7820HQ wins everywhere except one test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 613 versus 599, a 2.3% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 86 versus 84, a 2.4% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 2555 against 2496, a 2.4% edge, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 360 versus 352, a 2.3% edge. Cinebench R23 multicore is 6084 versus 5943, a 2.4% lead, and Cinebench R23 single-core is 858 versus 839, a 2.3% lead. Geekbench single-core is its biggest win: 1215 versus 1128, a 7.7% margin.

The i7-6700T's sole victory is Geekbench multicore, where it scores 3906 against 3748, a 4% advantage. That single result flips the overall narrative, suggesting that under certain multicore loads, the desktop Skylake part can outperform the mobile Kaby Lake part despite the latter's higher boost clock. The i7-7820HQ boosts to 3.90 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the i7-6700T, and its base clock is 2.90 GHz versus 2.80 GHz. Those clock advantages likely explain most of its wins.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster overall?

A: The i7-7820HQ wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all six Cinebench tests and Geekbench single-core. The i7-6700T wins only Geekbench multicore. Average scores are close: 1940 for the i7-7820HQ and 1918 for the i7-6700T.

Q: Is the i7-6700T better at anything?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench multicore by 4%, scoring 3906 versus 3748. It also has a lower TDP at 35 W compared to 45 W, and it supports the same dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 memory, but its memory bandwidth is recorded at 34.1 GB/s while the i7-7820HQ has no listed figure.

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: The i7-7820HQ leads in every single-core test. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score is 86 versus 84, Cinebench R20 single-core is 360 versus 352, Cinebench R23 single-core is 858 versus 839, and its Geekbench single-core score is 1215 versus 1128, a 7.7% advantage.

Q: Are they the same generation?

A: No. The i7-7820HQ is Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H) from 2017, while the i7-6700T is Skylake from 2015. Both are on 14 nm, but the i7-7820HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket and Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i7-6700T uses Intel Socket 1151 and HD Graphics 530.

Q: Do they have the same cache and core config?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory, and both are dual-channel with DDR3 and DDR4 support.

Q: Which one should I choose for a new build?

A: If you are building a desktop on Socket 1151, the i7-6700T is the only one that fits; the i7-7820HQ is a mobile part on BGA 1440. For raw benchmark wins, the i7-7820HQ is ahead, but its Geekbench multicore loss to the i7-6700T means the desktop chip is still competitive in that specific test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the entire comparison belongs to the i7-7820HQ in Geekbench single-core. It scores 1215 against 1128, a 7.7% lead. That is a decisive gap for a single-threaded workload, and it aligns with the i7-7820HQ's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. For everyday responsiveness, this is the metric that matters most.

The i7-6700T's only win is Geekbench multicore, where it outperforms by 4% (3906 versus 3748). That is a substantial reversal, especially since the i7-7820HQ has the higher clock speeds in both base and boost. The Geekbench multicore test appears to favor the desktop Skylake architecture, or at least penalize the mobile Kaby Lake part in some way that the Cinebench tests do not.

The Cinebench results are tightly clustered. Across all six tests, the i7-7820HQ leads by either 2.3% or 2.4%. In R15 multicore, it is 613 versus 599; in R15 single-core, 86 versus 84. In R20, multicore is 2555 versus 2496 and single-core is 360 versus 352. In R23, multicore is 6084 versus 5943 and single-core is 858 versus 839. Every one of these margins is small enough that real-world differences may be imperceptible, but the consistency is notable: the i7-7820HQ never loses a Cinebench test.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i7-7820HQ averages 1940, while the i7-6700T averages 1918, a difference of roughly 1%. Both sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the i7-7820HQ include the Intel Core i7-9850HL (1941, 0.1% higher) and the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945, 0.2% higher), while the i7-6700T's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (1916, 0.1% higher) and the Intel Xeon E-2314 (1911, 0.4% higher). These two chips are effectively in the same performance tier, and the head-to-head results confirm that.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several recorded fields. The i7-7820HQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i7-6700T runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. TDP is 45 W for the mobile chip and 35 W for the desktop chip. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1440 for the i7-7820HQ, Intel Socket 1151 for the i7-6700T. Architecture and codename differ: Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H) versus Skylake, with different generation labels. Die size is listed only for the i7-7820HQ at 126 mm². Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD Graphics 630 versus HD Graphics 530. Market segment differs: Mobile versus Desktop. Release dates differ: January 2017 versus August 2015. Launch MSRP differs: $378 versus $303. Part numbers differ: SR32N versus SR2BUSR2L3. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the i7-6700T at 34.1 GB/s. All other fields, including cores, threads, cache sizes, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe lanes, and multiplier lock status, are identical.