Core i7-7700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3500U

Core i7-7700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3500U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-7700HQ

4 / 8

6,880

+0.6%

6,836

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i7-7700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3500U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-7700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-7700HQ

2017

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 3500U

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,836 vs 6,880).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7700HQ better than Ryzen 5 3500U?

Yes. Core i7-7700HQ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-7700HQ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7700HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i7-7700HQ still makes the most sense overall. Core i7-7700HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 3500U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-7700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3500U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-7700HQ

The Core i7-7700HQ 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,880 points. Launch price was $378.

Ryzen 5 3500U

The Ryzen 5 3500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,836 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-7700HQ and Ryzen 5 3500U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-7700HQ versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500U — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-7700HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7700HQ scores 6,880 against the Ryzen 5 3500U's 6,836 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-7700HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700HQ vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500U.

Feature	Core i7-7700HQ	Ryzen 5 3500U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+3%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+33%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Kaby Lake-H (2017)	Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020)
PassMark	6,880	6,836
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	3,545
Geekbench 6 Single	—	876
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-7700HQ) vs 12 (Ryzen 5 3500U) — the Core i7-7700HQ offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: BGA1440 (Core i7-7700HQ) and Mobile (Ryzen 5 3500U).

Feature	Core i7-7700HQ	Ryzen 5 3500U
Socket	BGA1440	FP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-7700HQ) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 3500U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i7-7700HQ) and Radeon Vega 8 (Ryzen 5 3500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3500U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3500U rivals Core i5-10210U.