Core i7-7700HQ vs Xeon E5-1620 v3
Core i7-7700HQ
Xeon E5-1620 v3
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 i7-7700HQ is positioned at rank 493 and the Xeon E5-1620 v3 is on rank 577, so the Core i7-7700HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7700HQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1620 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-1620 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($189) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-1620 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($189) |
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 i7-7700HQ and Xeon E5-1620 v3
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.
Xeon E5-1620 v3
The Xeon E5-1620 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,959 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-7700HQ and Xeon E5-1620 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-7700HQ versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v3 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-7700HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7700HQ scores 6,880 against the Xeon E5-1620 v3's 6,959 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E5-1620 v3. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700HQ vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v3.
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-1620 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake-H (2017) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 6,880 | 6,959+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-7700HQ) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1620 v3). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-7700HQ) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1620 v3) — the Xeon E5-1620 v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: BGA1440 (Core i7-7700HQ) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-1620 v3).
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-1620 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i7-7700HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5-1620 v3 targets Server.
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-1620 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-7700HQ and Xeon E5-1620 v3
