Core i3-1210U vs Core i7-7700K
Core i3-1210U
Core i7-7700K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-1210U is positioned at rank 317 and the Core i7-7700K is on rank 577, so the Core i3-1210U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1210U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1210U | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1210U | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-1210U and Core i7-7700K
Core i3-1210U
The Core i3-1210U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 9,438 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-7700K
The Core i7-7700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,625 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1210U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-7700K offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i3-1210U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1210U versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7700K — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700K (base: 1 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i3-1210U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-7700K uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1210U scores 9,438 against the Core i7-7700K's 9,625 — a 2% lead for the Core i7-7700K. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1210U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700K.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 1 GHz | 4.2 GHz+320% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,438 | 9,625+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,040 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1210U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-7700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 14 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1210U) / not specified (Core i7-7700K). The Core i3-1210U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Core i7-7700K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1210U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1210U rivals Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Thin & Light Laptop | — |
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