Intel Core i5-7300HQ

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is a mobile quad-core processor from the Kaby Lake-H family, built for performance notebooks. Its benchmark data places it in a distinct middle ground: strong enough for demanding tasks, yet clearly behind modern desktop parts. The processor carries an end-of-life status, a 14 nm process node, and a die size of 126 mm².

Benchmark Performance

The Core i5-7300HQ delivers an average benchmark score of 1455, which places it at the 39th percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database. This percentile indicates that a majority of processors outperform it, but it remains a capable option for its era. The multi-core scores tell a consistent story across different rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15, the chip scores 434 points in the multi-core test, while in Cinebench R20 it reaches 1812, and in Cinebench R23 it achieves 4315. These results are coherent, showing a linear scaling pattern across newer versions of the benchmark.

Single-core performance is relatively modest. The Cinebench R15 single-core score is 61, the R20 score is 255, and the R23 score is 609. Geekbench results show a single-core score of 1119 and a multi-core score of 3037. The disparity between single-threaded and multi-threaded scores is notable — the multi-core scores are roughly three to seven times higher than single-core scores, depending on the benchmark. This ratio reflects the presence of four physical cores without hyper-threading, as the processor has 4 threads total.

Against its nearest rivals, the i5-7300HQ is essentially tied in aggregate performance. The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 shows a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i5 is 0.1% ahead, with an average score of 1456. The Intel Core i5-4590S also shows a -0.1% delta, again with 1456 points. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE and the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 both show a delta of -0.4%, indicating the i5-7300HQ is 0.4% ahead of their 1461-point averages. These are negligible differences, effectively making the four processors interchangeable on raw benchmark output.

Power and Thermals

The Core i5-7300HQ carries a TDP of 45 watts, which classifies it as a standard-performance mobile processor. This TDP level is typical for laptops that require sustained multi-core performance without the extreme cooling demands of desktop-class chips. The 45-watt envelope implies the need for a capable cooling solution — likely a dual-heatpipe or vapor-chamber design in a thicker notebook chassis, rather than a slim ultrabook's passive cooling.

The 14 nm process node from Intel helps keep power draw manageable within this TDP. The processor is not multiplier-unlocked, so end-users cannot overclock it to push beyond its thermal limits. The boost clock of 3.50 GHz and base clock of 2.50 GHz operate within this fixed power budget. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 also shares this thermal envelope, meaning that sustained iGPU load will reduce the CPU's available thermal headroom, though the data does not specify exact power sharing.

How It Compares

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the closest competitor, with an average score of 1456 against the i5-7300HQ's 1455. The 0.1% gap is well within run-to-run variance. Both processors target mobile workstations, but the i5-7300HQ offers modern Kaby Lake architecture and a newer memory controller, while the Xeon brings a different feature set. Benchmark results indicate no practical performance distinction.

The Intel Core i5-4590S represents a desktop alternative from the Haswell generation. With a matching average score of 1456, the i5-7300HQ is 0.1% ahead. This is notable because the i5-4590S is a desktop chip with a higher base clock, yet the mobile i5-7300HQ matches it in aggregate. The mobile chip's newer architecture compensates for its lower clock speeds.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE offers an average score of 1461, putting the i5-7300HQ 0.4% ahead. This is another near-parity situation. The Ryzen part is a low-power desktop processor, while the i5-7300HQ is a mobile chip, so their similar scores are surprising given the different market segments. The data shows no meaningful winner here.

The Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 also scores 1461, with the i5-7300HQ 0.4% ahead. This Xeon is a server-oriented part with a higher TDP class, yet its aggregate benchmark score does not separate it from the mobile i5. The i5-7300HQ's performance is therefore competitive with older professional-grade silicon.

Platform and Compatibility

The Core i5-7300HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable interface. This means the processor is permanently attached to the motherboard, so end-users cannot swap it out for a newer part. The platform is based on the Kaby Lake-H architecture, which is the high-performance mobile variant of the Kaby Lake generation. The part number is SR32S.

Memory support includes both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration. The dual-channel bus is essential for maximizing memory bandwidth, which benefits integrated-graphics performance. ECC memory is not supported, so this chip is not suited for error-correcting memory workloads. The PCIe interface is Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU, providing direct connectivity for discrete GPUs or high-speed storage.

The upgrade path is effectively closed. Since the socket is BGA 1440 and the chip is soldered, there is no path to a faster processor without replacing the entire laptop motherboard. The production status is end-of-life, meaning no new units are being manufactured. The release date is January 2017, making this a legacy platform. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 handles display output without the need for a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core i5-7300HQ compare to the Intel Core i5-4590S?

A: In aggregate benchmark scores, the i5-7300HQ is 0.1% ahead of the i5-4590S. The i5-4590S scores 1456 while the i5-7300HQ scores 1455, so the two are effectively equal in performance.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor, and what cooling does it require?

A: The TDP is 45 watts. This implies a standard mobile cooling solution with an active fan and heatpipes, typical of a performance laptop rather than a fanless ultrabook.

Q: Can this processor be overclocked?

A: No. The multiplier is locked, as the multiplierUnlocked field is false. Only the base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.50 GHz are available.

Q: What memory types does the i5-7300HQ support?

A: It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Is the processor upgradeable?

A: No. The socket is Intel BGA 1440, which is a soldered interface. The processor is permanently attached to the motherboard.

Q: What is the significance of the 4 threads on this chip?

A: The processor has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning it does not support hyper-threading. Each core handles exactly one thread, which limits multi-threaded scaling compared to processors with higher thread counts.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark split between single-thread and multi-thread results reveals the i5-7300HQ's design priorities. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 609 is low by modern standards, reflecting the 2.50 GHz base clock and the older Kaby Lake architecture. The Geekbench single-core score of 1119 reinforces this picture. These numbers indicate that the chip will not excel in lightly-threaded tasks such as legacy applications, spreadsheet work, or games that depend heavily on one core.

The multi-threaded results are comparatively stronger. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4315 is approximately seven times the single-core score, which is a high ratio for a 4-core/4-thread part. This suggests the processor scales well when all cores are engaged, as in video encoding or 3D rendering. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1812 and R15 score of 434 follow the same pattern. The Geekbench multi-core score of 3037 is about 2.7 times the single-core score, which is a smaller ratio than Cinebench shows, indicating that Geekbench's workload mix is less core-hungry.

For real workloads, this means the i5-7300HQ is best suited for parallelizable tasks where all four cores can work simultaneously. Users running rendering software or batch processing will see performance close to what the 45-watt TDP allows. Users running single-threaded software will experience a bottleneck, as the modest boost clock of 3.50 GHz cannot compensate for the architecture's age. The near-tie with the Xeon E3-1515M v5 and i5-4590S in aggregate scores masks this split — those rivals may have different single-thread versus multi-thread distributions, but the aggregate data does not capture those differences.