Core i7-7820HQ vs Xeon E3-1241 v3

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 i7-7820HQ vs Xeon E3-1241 v3 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 i7-7820HQ vs Xeon E3-1241 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-7820HQ

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 80W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon E3-1241 v3

2014

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,169 vs 7,184).
❌Launch MSRP is still $273 MSRP, while Core i7-7820HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌77.8% higher power demand at 80W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7820HQ better than Xeon E3-1241 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1241 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-7820HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7820HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-7820HQ is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1241 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-7820HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $273 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1241 v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core i7-7820HQ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-7820HQ vs Xeon E3-1241 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-7820HQ

The Core i7-7820HQ 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 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,184 points. Launch price was $378.

Xeon E3-1241 v3

The Xeon E3-1241 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,169 points. Launch price was $273.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-7820HQ and Xeon E3-1241 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-7820HQ versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1241 v3 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-7820HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7820HQ scores 7,184 against the Xeon E3-1241 v3's 7,169 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-7820HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-7820HQ	Xeon E3-1241 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.5 GHz+21%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake-H (2017)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	7,184	7,169

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7820HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.