Core i5-7400 vs Core i5-7440HQ
Core i5-7400
Core i5-7440HQ
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 i5-7400 is positioned at rank 820 and the Core i5-7440HQ is on rank 388, so the Core i5-7440HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7400
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7440HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7400 | Core i5-7440HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7400 | Core i5-7440HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-7400 and Core i5-7440HQ
Core i5-7400
The Core i5-7400 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,477 points. Launch price was $182.
Core i5-7440HQ
The Core i5-7440HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,490 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-7400 and Core i5-7440HQ share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7400 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-7440HQ — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-7440HQ (base: 3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-7400 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-7440HQ uses Kaby Lake-H (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7400 scores 5,477 against the Core i5-7440HQ's 5,490 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-7440HQ. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,215 vs 1,277, a 5% lead for the Core i5-7440HQ that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Core i5-7440HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+7% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Kaby Lake-H (2017) |
| PassMark | 5,477 | 5,490 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,359 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,215 | 1,277+5% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,517 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-7440HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 100-series,200-series (Core i5-7400) and HM175,QM175 (Core i5-7440HQ).
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Core i5-7440HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7400) and HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7440HQ) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7400 targets Gaming, Core i5-7440HQ targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-7400 rivals Ryzen 3 3300X; Core i5-7440HQ rivals Ryzen 5 2500U.
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Core i5-7440HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Gaming | High Performance Laptop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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