Intel Core i7-7700T vs Intel Core i7-8705G Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8705G and Intel Core i7-7700T are two Kaby Lake-era processors that occupy very different niches despite sharing a core count and thread count. The 8705G is a mobile part designed for compact, high-performance laptops, while the 7700T is a low-power desktop chip. The benchmark data shows a consistent, albeit narrow, edge for the 8705G across nearly every test, making this a comparison of a slight performance premium versus a significant power consumption difference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided. The Intel Core i7-8705G wins all eight benchmark comparisons, but the margins are typically small, with most deltas falling at or below 1%. The only exception is Geekbench single-core, where the 8705G extends its lead to 2.3%, scoring 1277 against the 7700T’s 1248.

In multi-threaded workloads, the 8705G maintains a narrow but consistent advantage. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 651 versus 646 for the 7700T, a 0.8% delta. That same 0.8% margin repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (2714 vs 2692) and Cinebench R23 multicore (6464 vs 6410). Geekbench multicore also follows the pattern, with the 8705G posting 3968 against 3938, another 0.8% win.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though the Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a perfect tie at 91 points for both chips. The 8705G pulls ahead in Cinebench R20 single-core (383 vs 380) and Cinebench R23 single-core (912 vs 905), each by 0.8%. The Geekbench single-core result is the outlier, with the 8705G’s 2.3% advantage being the largest gap in the entire comparison.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall picture. The 8705G holds an average score of 2058, placing it in the 46th percentile of all CPUs, while the 7700T averages 2039, sitting in the 45th percentile. The 8705G’s nearest rivals in the database — the Intel Core i3-10105T and AMD Ryzen 5 3400G — are essentially tied with it, showing deltaPct values of 0 and -0.1, respectively. The 7700T, meanwhile, finds itself alongside the AMD Opteron 6386 SE and Intel Core i7-3960X, both within 0.1% of its score.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the 8705G wins every benchmark in the comparison, the question of where each processor wins is less about performance and more about platform characteristics. The data shows the 8705G as the outright performance leader in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. Its wins are consistent across every generation of Cinebench — R15, R20, and R23 — as well as in Geekbench. For users who prioritize maximum compute throughput in a mobile form factor, the 8705G is the clear choice.

The 7700T, despite losing every benchmark, is not without a strategic advantage. It is a desktop part with a thermal design power of 35 watts, compared to the 8705G’s 65 watts. This makes the 7700T a lower-power option for compact desktop builds where heat output and cooling requirements are primary concerns. The 7700T also supports a standard Socket 1151 interface, which is a common desktop platform, whereas the 8705G uses the proprietary Intel BGA 2270 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable.

In practical terms, the 7700T wins on efficiency and platform flexibility. The performance deltas are so small — never exceeding 2.3% — that in real-world use, the difference between the two would be difficult to perceive without running a benchmark. The 7700T’s lower TDP allows for quieter cooling solutions and lower overall system power draw, which can be a deciding factor for home theater PCs or always-on servers. The 8705G, on the other hand, is designed for high-performance laptops where the extra 30 watts of thermal headroom buys that slight performance edge.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and share the Kaby Lake architecture family. The 8705G carries the Kaby Lake G codename, while the 7700T is simply Kaby Lake. This distinction matters: Kaby Lake G was a special variant designed to integrate with discrete-class graphics on the same package, which explains the 8705G’s mobile BGA 2270 socket. The 7700T uses the standard desktop Socket 1151.

The core configuration is identical on paper. Both chips feature 4 cores and 8 threads, with a 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and both run on dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Clock speeds, however, differ. The 8705G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The 7700T is clocked lower, with a 2.90 GHz base and a 3.80 GHz boost. This 0.2 GHz difference in base and 0.3 GHz in boost explains the 8705G’s consistent benchmark lead. The higher clocks come at the cost of power: 65 watts versus 35 watts.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The 8705G offers 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the 7700T provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This means the desktop part has double the CPU-attached PCIe bandwidth, which is relevant for discrete graphics cards or NVMe storage. The integrated graphics also differ slightly in naming — the 8705G uses Intel HD Graphics 630, while the 7700T lists HD 630 — though both are from the same generation.

The 8705G has a die size of 125 mm², while the 7700T’s die size is not listed in the data. The 8705G was released on 2018-01-06, about a year after the 7700T’s 2017-01-02 launch. Production status also differs: the 8705G is end-of-life, while the 7700T remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to 3.80 GHz for the Intel Core i7-7700T.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-7700T more power-efficient?

A: Yes. The 7700T has a thermal design power of 35 watts, while the 8705G is rated at 65 watts. This makes the 7700T a lower-power desktop option.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i7-8705G nor the Intel Core i7-7700T supports ECC memory.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The 8705G scores 1277 in Geekbench single-core, which is 2.3% ahead of the 7700T’s score of 1248. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: Are both processors built on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-8705G and the Intel Core i7-7700T are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700T has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i7-8705G has 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification areas. The most significant is thermal design power: the 8705G is rated at 65 watts, while the 7700T draws only 35 watts. Clock speeds also differ, with the 8705G running at 3.10 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, versus 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost for the 7700T.

The socket and platform are fundamentally different. The 8705G uses Intel BGA 2270, a mobile soldered socket, while the 7700T uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket. This is reflected in their market segments: the 8705G is a mobile part, and the 7700T is a desktop part.

PCIe lane allocation differs, with the 8705G providing 8 Gen 3 lanes and the 7700T providing 16 Gen 3 lanes. The integrated graphics are listed as Intel HD Graphics 630 on the 8705G and HD 630 on the 7700T. The 8705G has a die size of 125 mm², while the 7700T’s die size is not specified.

Production status and release dates also differ. The 8705G was released on 2018-01-06 and is end-of-life, while the 7700T was released on 2017-01-02 and remains active. The part numbers are SR3RK for the 8705G and SR339 for the 7700T. Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed, and both have locked multipliers.