Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here you can find useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like Blender, 7zip, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Handbrake, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, AIDA64, RealBench, PCMark 10, PassMark, WPrime.
   And how good the processors are in games:

Apex Legends
Halo Infinite
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
Grand Theft Auto V
Watch Dogs Legion
Overwatch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
DOOM: Eternal
Death Stranding
Last Man Standing
Red Dead Redemption 2
Fortnite
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Cyberpunk 2077
Valorant
Borderlands 3
Fallout 76
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7700HQ or Intel Core i5-3470.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-3470

51%

Core i7-7700HQ

52%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-7700HQ is 1% better than Core i5-3470. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-3470

51%

Core i7-7700HQ

52%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Control, Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.8	92.0
Valorant	103.2	104.6
Cyberpunk 2077	57.8	58.6
Apex Legends	97.0	98.3
Call of Duty Warzone	77.4	78.4
Overwatch	83.6	84.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.2	72.1
DOOM Eternal	51.6	52.3
Warzone	80.5	81.6
Assassin's Creed	86.7	87.8
Valheim	85.7	86.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-3470

32%

Core i7-7700HQ

74%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-7700HQ is more energy efficient than the Core i5-3470 as it consumes less power: 77W vs. 45W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Cinbench 15 Single-core	127	162
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	460	762
Cinbench 20 Single-core	313	390
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1010	1701
Cinbench 23 Single-core	682	961
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2603	4271

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Single-Core	1953	2053
Multi-Core	4620	7006

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Single-Core	756	1009
Multi-Core	2781	3936

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Announcement date	April 01, 2012	October 01, 2016
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	LGA1155	FCBGA1440
Core name	Ivy Bridge	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	3	7
Turbo Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.8 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	5 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	1480 millions	3300 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	77 W	45 W
Memory type	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133, DDR3L-1600
Max. Memory	32 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-3470 is 12% better than Core i7-7700HQ in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-3470 is better: 1
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7700HQ is better: 31
However, it should be understood that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i7-7700HQ before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-3470 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-7700HQ specs and review.