Core i7-7700K vs Ryzen 3 5300U

Core i7-7700K vs Ryzen 3 5300U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-7700K

4 / 8

9,625

+1.8%

9,453

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

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 i7-7700K vs Ryzen 3 5300U 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 i7-7700K vs Ryzen 3 5300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-7700K

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $305 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 5300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌566.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 5300U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 3 5300U

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 100W, a 85W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 6, while Core i7-7700K needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,453 vs 9,625).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7700K better than Ryzen 3 5300U?

Yes. Core i7-7700K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 15.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.8% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-7700K is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.4% 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 i7-7700K is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i7-7700K is the better buy right now. Core i7-7700K comes in at an unclear MSRP at $305 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (31.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 3 5300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2017). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-7700K vs Ryzen 3 5300U Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-7700K

The Core i7-7700K 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,625 points. Launch price was $339.

Ryzen 3 5300U

The Ryzen 3 5300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,453 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-7700K and Ryzen 3 5300U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7700K versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen 3 5300U — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700K (base: 4.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-7700K uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 5300U uses Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7700K scores 9,625 against the Ryzen 3 5300U's 9,453 — a 1.8% lead for the Core i7-7700K. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 5300U.

Feature	Core i7-7700K	Ryzen 3 5300U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+18%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	4.2 GHz+62%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
PassMark	9,625+2%	9,453
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,522
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,457
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,526

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 5300U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-7700K	Ryzen 3 5300U
Socket	LGA1151	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-7700K) / Yes (Ryzen 3 5300U). The Ryzen 3 5300U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 6), while the Core i7-7700K requires a dedicated GPU.