Core i7-2700K vs Core i7-4720HQ
Core i7-2700K
Core i7-4720HQ
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 i7-2700K is positioned at rank 863 and the Core i7-4720HQ is on rank 974, so the Core i7-2700K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2700K
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4720HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2700K | Core i7-4720HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2700K | Core i7-4720HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ 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 i7-2700K and Core i7-4720HQ
Core i7-2700K
The Core i7-2700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,689 points. Launch price was $514.
Core i7-4720HQ
The Core i7-4720HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,714 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-2700K and Core i7-4720HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-2700K versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-4720HQ — a 8% clock advantage for the Core i7-2700K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-2700K uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4720HQ uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2700K scores 5,689 against the Core i7-4720HQ's 5,714 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-4720HQ. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2700K vs 6 MB on the Core i7-4720HQ.
| Feature | Core i7-2700K | Core i7-4720HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+35% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,689 | 5,714 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 701 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2700K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-4720HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2700K | Core i7-4720HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1364 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i7-2700K) / not specified (Core i7-4720HQ). The Core i7-2700K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Core i7-4720HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2700K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2700K rivals FX-8150.
| Feature | Core i7-2700K | Core i7-4720HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Desktop | — |
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