CPU Comparison
Core i5-7440HQ vs Intel Core i7-3635QM
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-7440HQ is a 7th generation mobile processor designed for high-performance laptops. Released in early 2017, it belongs to the Kaby Lake-H family, characterized by a 45W TDP tailored for thicker gaming and workstation laptops. Featuring 4 cores and 4 threads, it operates at a base frequency of 2.8 GHz and can boost up to 3.8 GHz. The processor is built on Intel's 14nm process and integrates the Intel HD Graphics 630, handling everyday display tasks and light media decoding. Unlike its desktop counterparts, the 7440HQ is soldered onto BGA1440 motherboards, meaning it cannot be upgraded. It supports both DDR4 and DDR3L memory, offering flexibility for manufacturers. Positioned as a mid-range mobile chip, it provided a solid balance between power and thermal output, making it a common choice in budget gaming laptops and mobile workstations where dedicated graphics handled the heavy lifting.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Strong single-thread performance makes it great for office tasks and general computing.
8 threads handle everyday multitasking and office workloads without issues.
Gaming
Performs well in eSports and older titles when paired with a dedicated mobile GPU, but bottlenecks modern AAA games.
Handles older or eSports titles well when paired with a discrete GPU.
Virtualization
Can handle light virtualization tasks, though lacking 8 threads limits heavy VM usage.
Can run light VMs, but limited by DDR3 bandwidth and 45W power.
Efficiency
14nm process and 45W TDP are inefficient by modern standards, leading to shorter battery life.
22nm Ivy Bridge is not as efficient as modern mobile processes.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Low core count restricts local LLM or inference workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- CPU inference is slow
Content Creation
Gaming
- Adequate for 1080p medium settings in older games
- 4 cores may cause stuttering in modern CPU-heavy titles
- Requires a dedicated GPU for gaming
- Needs a discrete GPU for gaming
- Capable of 60fps in older titles
- Will bottleneck modern high-end mobile GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Good single-core performance for its generation
- Supports both DDR4 and DDR3L memory
- Includes VT-d and vPro features
- Adequate for 1080p gaming with a dGPU
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Soldered to the motherboard, not upgradeable
- 45W TDP results in poor battery life
- Not officially supported by Windows 11
Pros
- Good quad-core performance for its era
- BGA design allows for thinner laptops
- Strong turbo boost frequencies
- Decent 6MB L3 cache
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard, cannot be upgraded
- Older 22nm process
- Supports only DDR3
- Weak integrated graphics
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i5-7440HQ
- AMD A12-9720PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-7700HQRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-7300HQRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-6300HQRival
Mobile
Modern alternative with better IPC and efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
Offers 6 cores and 12 threads for vastly better multi-threading.
- Intel Core i5-8300HAlt
Direct successor offering 4 more threads.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Vastly superior modern mobile alternative with better battery life.
Intel Core i7-3635QM
- AMD A10-4600MRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3630QMRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-3612QMRival
Mobile
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3210MRival
Mobile
Newer Haswell architecture with better efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
Modern mobile alternative with vastly superior efficiency.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Much faster and more efficient for budget laptops.
- Alt
Incredible performance per watt.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A dependable quad-core mobile CPU that offered a good balance of performance and thermals for 2017 gaming laptops, though it lacks modern multi-threading capabilities.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used laptop for basic tasks
Read the full reviewA capable mobile CPU that provided excellent quad-core performance for laptops in its era, utilizing a space-saving BGA design.
Best for: Purchasing a budget, used laptop for basic tasks or retro gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-7440HQ or Intel Core i7-3635QM?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-7440HQ comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-7440HQ or Intel Core i7-3635QM?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-3635QM leads with a gaming performance score of 50/100 among Core i5-7440HQ and Intel Core i7-3635QM.
Do Core i5-7440HQ and Intel Core i7-3635QM use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i5-7440HQ: BGA1440, Intel Core i7-3635QM: Intel BGA 1224), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-3635QM posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-3635QM (4,900). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.