
Core i5-8257U vs Core i7-7820HK

Core i5-8257U

Core i7-7820HK
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 i5-8257U is positioned at rank 235 and the Core i7-7820HK is on rank 892, so the Core i5-8257U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8257U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7820HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8257U | Core i7-7820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8257U | Core i7-7820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
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 i5-8257U and Core i7-7820HK

Core i5-8257U
The Core i5-8257U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,427 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-7820HK
The Core i7-7820HK 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 7,397 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-8257U and Core i7-7820HK share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8257U versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-7820HK — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-8257U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-7820HK uses Kaby Lake-H (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8257U scores 7,427 against the Core i7-7820HK's 7,397 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-8257U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-8257U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7820HK.
| Feature | Core i5-8257U | Core i7-7820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.9 GHz+107% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | Kaby Lake-H (2017) |
| PassMark | 7,427 | 7,397 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,017 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8257U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-7820HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8257U | Core i7-7820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8257U) / not specified (Core i7-7820HK). The Core i5-8257U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645), while the Core i7-7820HK requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8257U targets Ultrabook.
| Feature | Core i5-8257U | Core i7-7820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















