Core i7-7660U vs Core i3-7130U
Core i7-7660U
Core i3-7130U
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 i7-7660U is positioned at rank 550 and the Core i3-7130U is on rank 641, so the Core i7-7660U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7660U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7130U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7660U | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-U (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7660U | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-7660U and Core i3-7130U
Core i7-7660U
The Core i7-7660U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,059 points. Launch price was $415.
Core i3-7130U
The Core i3-7130U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-U (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,055 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-7660U and Core i3-7130U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-7660U versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-7130U — a 38.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-7660U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-7660U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-7130U uses Kaby Lake-U (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7660U scores 4,059 against the Core i3-7130U's 4,055 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-7660U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,150 vs 900, a 24.4% lead for the Core i7-7660U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-7660U vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7130U.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+48% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Kaby Lake-U (2017) |
| PassMark | 4,059 | 4,055 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,759 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,150+28% | 900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,285 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the BGA1356 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-7660U) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7130U). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Plus 640 (Core i7-7660U) and HD Graphics 620 (Core i3-7130U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-7660U targets Productivity, Core i3-7130U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-7660U rivals Core i5-8250U; Core i3-7130U rivals Ryzen 3 3250U.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus 640 | HD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Productivity | Mainstream Laptop |
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