Core i7-4770 vs Core i7-6820HK

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 i7-4770

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($303 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Delivers 25.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 23.3 vs 18.6 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌86.7% higher power demand at 84W vs 45W.

Core i7-6820HK

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 84W, a 39W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4770 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,012 vs 7,055).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.6 vs 23.3 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).

Core i7-4770

2013

Core i7-6820HK

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($303 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).
✅Delivers 25.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 23.3 vs 18.6 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 84W, a 39W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌86.7% higher power demand at 84W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4770 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,012 vs 7,055).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.6 vs 23.3 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-4770 better than Core i7-6820HK?

Yes. Core i7-4770 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-4770 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.0% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4770 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-4770 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-4770 is $75 cheaper on MSRP at $303 MSRP versus $378 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 25.5% better value on MSRP (23.3 vs 18.6 PassMark/$), 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 i7-6820HK is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2013). 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 i7-4770 Benchmark Check

Core i7-6820HK Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
1080p
low	169 FPS	167 FPS
medium	141 FPS	135 FPS
high	113 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	145 FPS
medium	119 FPS	116 FPS
high	93 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	74 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	69 FPS
medium	58 FPS	59 FPS
high	45 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-4770 Open Core i7-6820HK

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
1080p
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	166 FPS	154 FPS
high	155 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	165 FPS	157 FPS
medium	145 FPS	133 FPS
high	133 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	129 FPS	123 FPS
medium	117 FPS	107 FPS
high	98 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	60 FPS

Open Core i7-4770 Open Core i7-6820HK

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
1080p
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS
4K
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS

Open Core i7-4770 Open Core i7-6820HK

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
1080p
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS
4K
low	176 FPS	175 FPS
medium	176 FPS	175 FPS
high	176 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	175 FPS

Open Core i7-4770 Open Core i7-6820HK

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-4770 and Core i7-6820HK

Core i7-4770

The Core i7-4770 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,055 points. Launch price was $500.

Core i7-6820HK

The Core i7-6820HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,012 points. Launch price was $378.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-4770 and Core i7-6820HK share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-4770 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-6820HK — a 8% clock advantage for the Core i7-4770 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-4770 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-6820HK uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4770 scores 7,055 against the Core i7-6820HK's 7,012 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-4770. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-4770 vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6820HK.

Feature	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+8%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+26%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	8192 kB (total)	8 MB
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1 MB+300%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	7,055	7,012

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-4770 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6820HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-4770	Core i7-6820HK
Socket	LGA1150	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

The Core i7-4770 launched at $303 MSRP, while the Core i7-6820HK debuted at $378. On MSRP ($303 vs $378), the Core i7-4770 is $75 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-4770 delivers 23.3 pts/$ vs 18.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-6820HK — making the Core i7-4770 the 22.6% better value option.