Intel Core i5-7300HQ vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-7300HQ vs Intel Core i7-6700K and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, rendering, programming, streaming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as Blender, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, SuperPi, WPrime, Gears 5, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Handbrake, AIDA64, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, Prime95, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i5-7300HQ.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-7300HQ

51%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-6700K is 1% better than Core i5-7300HQ. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-7300HQ

51%

Core i7-6700K

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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. And if it seems to you 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.1	93.6
Valorant	103.5	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	58.0	59.6
Apex Legends	97.3	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	77.6	79.8
Overwatch	83.9	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.4	73.4
DOOM Eternal	51.8	53.2
Warzone	80.8	83.0
Assassin's Creed	87.0	89.4
Valheim	85.9	88.3

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-7300HQ

66%

Core i7-6700K

45%

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 i5-7300HQ is more energy efficient than the Core i7-6700K since it has less power consumption: 45W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in 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 i5-7300HQ	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	143	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	541	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	288	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1083	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	789	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2824	5640

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

	Intel Core i5-7300HQ	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	2001	2556
Multi-Core	5134	8984

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

	Intel Core i5-7300HQ	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	900	1308
Multi-Core	3045	5516

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-7300HQ	Intel Core i7-6700K
Announcement date	January 01, 2017	April 01, 2015
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1440	LGA1151
Core name	Kaby Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	6
Turbo Frequency	3.5 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2100 millions	1750 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133, DDR3L-1600	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 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 i7-6700K is 37% better than Core i5-7300HQ 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 i5-7300HQ is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-7300HQ and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-7300HQ specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.