Core i7-4790S vs Core i7-6820HK
Core i7-4790S
Core i7-6820HK
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 i7-4790S is positioned at rank 740 and the Core i7-6820HK is on rank 911, so the Core i7-4790S offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790S
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6820HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4790S | Core i7-6820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4790S | Core i7-6820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+526%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
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 i7-4790S and Core i7-6820HK
Core i7-4790S
The Core i7-4790S 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 3.2 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,973 points. Launch price was $303.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-4790S and Core i7-6820HK share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790S versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-6820HK — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790S (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-4790S uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-6820HK uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4790S scores 6,973 against the Core i7-6820HK's 7,012 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-6820HK. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790S vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6820HK.
| Feature | Core i7-4790S | Core i7-6820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+11% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 6,973 | 7,012 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4790S 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 i7-4790S | Core i7-6820HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-4790S launched at $312 MSRP, while the Core i7-6820HK debuted at $378.
| Feature | Core i7-4790S | Core i7-6820HK |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $312-17% | $378 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60 | — |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2015 |
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