Core i7-7920HQ vs Core i7-4790
Core i7-7920HQ
Core i7-4790
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 i7-7920HQ is positioned at rank 980 and the Core i7-4790 is on rank 762, so the Core i7-4790 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7920HQ
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7920HQ | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7920HQ | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 i7-7920HQ and Core i7-4790
Core i7-7920HQ
The Core i7-7920HQ 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 7,322 points. Launch price was $378.
Core i7-4790
The Core i7-4790 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,263 points. Launch price was $303.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-7920HQ and Core i7-4790 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-7920HQ versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-7920HQ (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-7920HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4790 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7920HQ scores 7,322 against the Core i7-4790's 7,263 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-7920HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-7920HQ | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+2% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+16% |
| 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 (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 7,322 | 7,263 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7920HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4790 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-7920HQ | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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