Core i7-4790 vs Core i7-7920HQ
Core i7-4790
Core i7-7920HQ
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 i7-4790 is positioned at rank 762 and the Core i7-7920HQ is on rank 980, so the Core i7-4790 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7920HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4790 | Core i7-7920HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4790 | Core i7-7920HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ 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.
Path of Exile 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-4790 and Core i7-7920HQ
Core i7-4790
The Core i7-4790 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,263 points. Launch price was $303.
Core i7-7920HQ
The Core i7-7920HQ 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 7,322 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-4790 and Core i7-7920HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-7920HQ — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-7920HQ (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-4790 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-7920HQ uses Kaby Lake-H (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4790 scores 7,263 against the Core i7-7920HQ's 7,322 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-7920HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-4790 | Core i7-7920HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.1 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+16% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Kaby Lake-H (2017) |
| PassMark | 7,263 | 7,322 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4790 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-7920HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4790 | Core i7-7920HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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