Core i7-7920HQ vs Xeon Phi 7210

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 i7-7920HQ vs Xeon Phi 7210 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 i7-7920HQ vs Xeon Phi 7210: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-7920HQ

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 215W, a 170W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Phi 7210 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Phi 7210, which brings 64 cores / 256 threads.

Xeon Phi 7210

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 256 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,306 vs 7,322).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,881 MSRP, while Core i7-7920HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌377.8% higher power demand at 215W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7920HQ better than Xeon Phi 7210?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Phi 7210 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-7920HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7920HQ 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 i7-7920HQ is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Phi 7210 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-7920HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,881 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon Phi 7210 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Phi 7210 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-7920HQ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 64/256. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-7920HQ vs Xeon Phi 7210 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon Phi 7210

The Xeon Phi 7210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Knights Landing (2016) architecture. It features 64 cores and 256 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 215 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,306 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-7920HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Phi 7210 offers 64 cores / 256 threads — the Xeon Phi 7210 has 60 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-7920HQ versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon Phi 7210 — a 92.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-7920HQ (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i7-7920HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Phi 7210 uses Knights Landing (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7920HQ scores 7,322 against the Xeon Phi 7210's 7,306 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-7920HQ. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7920HQ vs 0 kB (total) on the Xeon Phi 7210.

Feature	Core i7-7920HQ	Xeon Phi 7210
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	64 / 256+1500%
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+173%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+138%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	0 kB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake-H (2017)	Knights Landing (2016)
PassMark	7,322	7,306

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7920HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Phi 7210 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.