Intel Core i7-7820HK vs Intel Core i7-8705G Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8705G and Intel Core i7-7820HK are both 14 nm Kaby Lake mobile parts with 4 cores and 8 threads, but they target different design goals. The 8705G is a Kaby Lake-G part built for compact systems with a powerful integrated GPU, while the 7820HK is a Kaby Lake-H chip with an unlocked multiplier for enthusiast overclocking. Benchmark results show the 8705G edges ahead in most CPU-bound tests, though the 7820HK counters with a notable Geekbench multi-core win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base and boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G runs at 3.10 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, while the Intel Core i7-7820HK operates at 2.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The i7-8705G scores 6464, which is 2.5% higher than the i7-7820HK’s 6306, giving the 8705G the win in that benchmark.

Q: Does the i7-7820HK offer any benchmark advantage over the i7-8705G?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core, the i7-7820HK scores 4173 versus 3968 for the i7-8705G, a 4.9% advantage for the 7820HK.

Q: Are both CPUs based on the same process node?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-8705G and Intel Core i7-7820HK are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i7-8705G has a 65 W TDP, while the i7-7820HK has a 45 W TDP, meaning the 8705G is rated for higher power draw.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on either chip?

A: The i7-7820HK has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i7-8705G does not, making the 7820HK the overclockable option.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Kaby Lake architecture and are built on Intel’s 14 nm node, but they diverge in platform integration and package design. The i7-8705G uses the Kaby Lake-G codename and fits the Intel BGA 2270 socket, while the i7-7820HK is a Kaby Lake-H part designed for the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Die size is nearly identical at 125 mm² for the 8705G and 126 mm² for the 7820HK, and both feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

The memory controllers differ: the i7-8705G supports only DDR4 with dual-channel memory and has a specified memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-7820HK supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with dual-channel memory but lists no memory bandwidth figure. PCIe lane allocation also separates the two: the 8705G provides 8 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, whereas the 7820HK offers 16 Gen 3 lanes. Both integrate Intel HD Graphics 630, but the 8705G’s defining feature is its embedded GPU package (not benchmarked here), which is absent from the 7820HK. The 8705G launched in January 2018, one year after the 7820HK’s January 2017 release, and both are now end-of-life. The 7820HK carries an unlocked multiplier, a feature the 8705G lacks.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors. The i7-8705G wins 7 of 8 head-to-head tests, with decisive margins in Cinebench workloads: it leads by 2.5% in R15 multi-core, 2.2% in R15 single-core, 2.5% in R20 multi-core, 2.7% in R20 single-core, 2.5% in R23 multi-core, and 2.5% in R23 single-core. It also takes a slim 0.3% win in Geekbench single-core (1277 vs 1273). For users prioritizing consistent CPU throughput in rendering and single-threaded tasks, the i7-8705G is the stronger pick.

The i7-7820HK’s sole victory is Geekbench multi-core, where it posts 4173 against the 8705G’s 3968, a 4.9% advantage. That result suggests the 7820HK may hold an edge in certain multi-threaded applications that align with Geekbench’s workload mix, despite losing all Cinebench iterations. The 7820HK also offers an unlocked multiplier, enabling manual overclocking that could close or reverse gaps in practice, though stock benchmarks show it behind in most tests. Additionally, the 7820HK has a lower 45 W TDP versus 65 W for the 8705G, which may appeal to systems with tighter thermal budgets, but the 8705G delivers higher stock performance in the majority of measured workloads. Choose the 8705G for raw out-of-the-box CPU performance; choose the 7820HK for overclocking headroom and the Geekbench multi-core advantage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8705G | Intel Core i7-7820HK |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2270 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Codename | Kaby Lake G | Kaby Lake-H |

| Generation | Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G) | Core i7 (Kaby Lake-H) |

| Die Size | 125 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Release Date | 2018-01-06 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $378 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR3RK | SR32P |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-8705G dominates the Cinebench family of tests, starting with R15 multi-core where it scores 651 against the i7-7820HK’s 635, a 2.5% margin. That pattern repeats in R15 single-core (91 vs 89, +2.2%) and R20 multi-core (2714 vs 2648, +2.5%). The largest single-core gap appears in R20, where the 8705G’s 383 beats the 7820HK’s 373 by 2.7%, the widest percentage delta of any Cinebench test. R23 results stay consistent: the 8705G posts 6464 multi-core and 912 single-core, both 2.5% ahead of the 7820HK’s 6306 and 890.

Geekbench tells a different story. The i7-7820HK wins multi-core decisively with 4173 points, outperforming the 8705G’s 3968 by 4.9% — the largest margin of any benchmark in the comparison. That result is notable because the 7820HK has a lower base clock (2.90 GHz vs 3.10 GHz) and lower boost (3.90 GHz vs 4.10 GHz), yet still manages a substantial multi-core lead in Geekbench’s test suite. In Geekbench single-core, however, the 8705G recovers with a narrow 0.3% win: 1277 versus 1273.

Aggregating the data, the i7-8705G holds a 7-to-1 win record over the i7-7820HK. The average benchmark score for the 8705G is 2058, placing it at the 46th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals like the Intel Core i3-10105T at 2058 (0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 5 3400G at 2059 (-0.1% delta). The i7-7820HK averages 2048, also at the 46th percentile, with the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 matching it at 2048 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U trailing at 2046 (0.1% delta). The 8705G’s 10-point average score advantage (2058 vs 2048) is marginal, but its consistent Cinebench wins indicate a more predictable performance profile across rendering workloads, while the 7820HK’s Geekbench spike shows it can excel in specific multi-threaded scenarios.