
Core i7-7700HQ vs Xeon E5-2430 v2

Core i7-7700HQ

Xeon E5-2430 v2
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 E5-2430 v2 is on rank 428, so the Xeon E5-2430 v2 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 E5-2430 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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-H (2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-7700HQ and Xeon E5-2430 v2

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 E5-2430 v2
The Xeon E5-2430 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,859 points. Launch price was $311.
Processing Power
The Core i7-7700HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2430 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-7700HQ versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2430 v2 — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700HQ (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-7700HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7700HQ scores 6,880 against the Xeon E5-2430 v2's 6,859 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-7700HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700HQ vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2430 v2.
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+27% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+12% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake-H (2017) | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,880 | 6,859 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-7700HQ) / not specified (Xeon E5-2430 v2). The Core i7-7700HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-7700HQ | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.















