CPU Comparison
Core i5-7440HQ vs Intel Core i5-6350HQ
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.
Quad-core performance handles everyday applications and moderate content creation well.
Gaming
Performs well in eSports and older titles when paired with a dedicated mobile GPU, but bottlenecks modern AAA games.
Capable of playing older or well-optimized titles at 1080p thanks to the Iris Pro 580 graphics.
Virtualization
Can handle light virtualization tasks, though lacking 8 threads limits heavy VM usage.
Adequate for light virtual machine workloads but limited by 4 threads.
Efficiency
14nm process and 45W TDP are inefficient by modern standards, leading to shorter battery life.
The 14nm process and 45W TDP run warm compared to modern mobile chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Low core count restricts local LLM or inference workloads
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- Iris Pro execution units can handle very basic inference workloads
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
- Iris Pro 580 provides playable framerates in older esports titles
- Lacks the horsepower of modern integrated solutions
- Benefited from 128MB eDRAM buffer for texture caching
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
- Powerful Iris Pro 580 integrated graphics for its time
- True quad-core design for solid multitasking
- Configurable TDP for mobile flexibility
- Supports fast DDR4 memory
- Includes 128MB eDRAM cache
Cons
- End-of-life and outdated architecture
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 45W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- Soldered to the motherboard (BGA)
- Only 4 threads limits modern multitasking
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 i5-6350HQ
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile
- AMD FX-8800PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-6700HQRival
Mobile
- NVIDIA GTX 950M (paired with standard CPU)Rival
Mobile Graphics
- AMD A12-9720PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-7700HQAlt
Offers 8 threads and better overall performance in the same form factor.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500UAlt
A more modern alternative with Vega graphics and better efficiency.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
A quad-core low-power alternative with much better battery life.
- Alt
A revolutionary leap in mobile CPU and GPU efficiency and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 3750HAlt
A newer mobile quad-core with superior integrated graphics performance.
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 unique mobile processor that combined capable quad-core CPU performance with Intel's best integrated graphics of its era, though it is now outdated.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used laptop for basic retro gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-7440HQ or Intel Core i5-6350HQ?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. 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 i5-6350HQ?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Core i5-7440HQ and Intel Core i5-6350HQ.
Do Core i5-7440HQ and Intel Core i5-6350HQ use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i5-7440HQ: BGA1440, Intel Core i5-6350HQ: Intel BGA 1440), so each needs a compatible motherboard.