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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-2600K

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $61 less on MSRP ($317 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Delivers 20.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 17.3 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($317 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-4700EQ.

Trade-offs

❌102.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 47W.

Core i7-4700EQ

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 47W instead of 95W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,417 vs 5,484).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 17.3 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $317 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-2600K.

Core i7-2600K

2011

Core i7-4700EQ

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $61 less on MSRP ($317 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Delivers 20.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 17.3 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($317 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-4700EQ.

Why buy it

✅Draws 47W instead of 95W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌102.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 47W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2600K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,417 vs 5,484).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 17.3 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $317 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-2600K.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2600K better than Core i7-4700EQ?

Yes. Core i7-2600K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-2600K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2600K is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-2600K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-2600K is $61 cheaper on MSRP at $317 MSRP versus $378 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 20.7% better value on MSRP (17.3 vs 14.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-4700EQ is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-2600K Benchmark Check

Core i7-4700EQ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
1080p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	114 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	85 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	118 FPS	116 FPS
high	93 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	66 FPS
medium	57 FPS	60 FPS
high	45 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-2600K Open Core i7-4700EQ

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
1080p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	122 FPS
high	137 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	133 FPS	108 FPS
medium	118 FPS	98 FPS
high	96 FPS	78 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	57 FPS

Open Core i7-2600K Open Core i7-4700EQ

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
1080p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS

Open Core i7-2600K Open Core i7-4700EQ

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
1080p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	135 FPS
medium	137 FPS	135 FPS
high	137 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	135 FPS

Open Core i7-2600K Open Core i7-4700EQ

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-2600K and Core i7-4700EQ

Core i7-2600K

The Core i7-2600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,484 points. Launch price was $317.

Core i7-4700EQ

The Core i7-4700EQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 May 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,417 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-2600K and Core i7-4700EQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600K versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-4700EQ — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-2600K uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4700EQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2600K scores 5,484 against the Core i7-4700EQ's 5,417 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i7-2600K. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2600K vs 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-4700EQ.

Feature	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+12%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+42%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Crystalwell (2013−2014)
PassMark	5,484+1%	5,417
Geekbench 6 Single	707	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-2600K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-4700EQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
Socket	LGA1155	BGA1364
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-2600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i7-2600K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-4700EQ). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2600K) and HD Graphics 4600 (Core i7-4700EQ) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600K targets Gaming Desktop, Core i7-4700EQ targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600K rivals FX-8150.

Feature	Core i7-2600K	Core i7-4700EQ
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 3000	HD Graphics 4600
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Desktop	Mobile

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-2600K launched at $317 MSRP, while the Core i7-4700EQ debuted at $378. On MSRP ($317 vs $378), the Core i7-2600K is $61 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-2600K delivers 17.3 pts/$ vs 14.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-4700EQ — making the Core i7-2600K the 18.8% better value option.