Core i5-7300HQ vs Core i7-3610QM

The Core i5-7300HQ packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-3610QM's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300HQ versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3610QM — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-7300HQ (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-7300HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3610QM uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7300HQ scores 5,077 against the Core i7-3610QM's 5,132 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i7-3610QM. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.

The Core i5-7300HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3610QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-7300HQ versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i7-3610QM — the Core i5-7300HQ supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-7300HQ supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7300HQ) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i7-3610QM) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300HQ targets Mobile, Core i7-3610QM targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3610QM rivals AMD A10-5750M.