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 i7-4700EQ

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $5 less on MSRP ($378 MSRP vs $383 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4600, while Core i7-4700MQ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-4700MQ

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,349 vs 5,417).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌
1.3% HIGHER MSRP
$383 MSRPvs$378 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-4700EQ can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-4700EQ

2013

Core i7-4700MQ

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $5 less on MSRP ($378 MSRP vs $383 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4600, while Core i7-4700MQ needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,349 vs 5,417).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌
1.3% HIGHER MSRP
$383 MSRPvs$378 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-4700EQ can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-4700EQ better than Core i7-4700MQ?

Yes. Core i7-4700EQ is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4700EQ is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i7-4700EQ is the smarter buy today. Core i7-4700EQ is $5 cheaper on MSRP at $378 MSRP versus $383 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.6% better value on MSRP (14.3 vs 14.0 PassMark/$), 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 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-4700EQ Benchmark Check

Core i7-4700MQ Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
1080p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	105 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	116 FPS	118 FPS
high	89 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	67 FPS
medium	60 FPS	61 FPS
high	46 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-4700EQ Open Core i7-4700MQ

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
1080p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	132 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	122 FPS	133 FPS
high	113 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	98 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	118 FPS
medium	98 FPS	107 FPS
high	78 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	57 FPS	62 FPS

Open Core i7-4700EQ Open Core i7-4700MQ

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
1080p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS

Open Core i7-4700EQ Open Core i7-4700MQ

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
1080p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	135 FPS	134 FPS
high	135 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	134 FPS

Open Core i7-4700EQ Open Core i7-4700MQ

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-4700EQ and Core i7-4700MQ

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.

Core i7-4700MQ

The Core i7-4700MQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 May 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,349 points. Launch price was $288.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-4700EQ and Core i7-4700MQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-4700EQ versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-4700MQ — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-4700EQ uses the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4700MQ uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4700EQ scores 5,417 against the Core i7-4700MQ's 5,349 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-4700EQ. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-4700EQ vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-4700MQ.

Feature	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	8192 kB (total)+33%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Crystalwell (2013−2014)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	5,417+1%	5,349

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-4700EQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4700MQ uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
Socket	BGA1364	PGA946
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-4700EQ) / not specified (Core i7-4700MQ). The Core i7-4700EQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Core i7-4700MQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-4700EQ targets Mobile.

Feature	Core i7-4700EQ	Core i7-4700MQ
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 4600	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Mobile	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-4700EQ launched at $378 MSRP, while the Core i7-4700MQ debuted at $383. On MSRP ($378 vs $383), the Core i7-4700EQ is $5 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-4700EQ delivers 14.3 pts/$ vs 14.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-4700MQ — making the Core i7-4700EQ the 2.6% better value option.