CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-4700HQ vs Intel Core i5-5350H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-4700HQ is a fourth-generation mobile processor launched in May 2013, designed to power high-performance laptops and mobile workstations. Built on the Haswell microarchitecture, it features four physical cores and eight threads, providing substantial parallel processing capabilities for demanding applications. Operating at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz, it can dynamically boost up to 3.4 GHz when thermal headroom permits. Unlike the premium Crystalwell variants, this model utilizes Intel HD Graphics 4600 rather than the eDRAM-enabled HD 5200, making it a more standard offering for gaming laptops paired with discrete GPUs. With a 47-watt TDP, it strikes a balance between raw performance and power consumption, fitting comfortably within thick-and-light gaming chassis. Although end-of-life, it served as a workhorse CPU during a crucial transition period in mobile computing, delivering reliable frame rates and multitasking efficiency for a generation of laptop users.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Adequate for basic multitasking and office apps.
Dual-core limits heavy multitasking, but 3.5GHz boost keeps everyday tasks snappy.
Gaming
Handles older eSports titles well, bottlenecks modern GPUs.
Iris Pro 6200 allows for playable framerates in older titles at 1080p.
Virtualization
Can run lightweight VMs for development.
Can run one light VM, but dual-core design heavily limits virtualization.
Efficiency
47W TDP results in poor battery life by modern standards.
47W TDP is somewhat high for a dual-core, but 14nm helps keep it manageable.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No NPU or modern AI acceleration
- No AI acceleration
- Dual-core CPU limits inference workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs
- Great for 2013-2015 titles
- Comparable to mobile discrete GPUs like the GT 740M
- Excellent for indie and eSports titles of its era
- eDRAM significantly helps with frame pacing
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable quad-core performance
- Widely compatible laptop ecosystem
- Good turbo boost headroom
- VT-d and AES-NI support
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard
- No eDRAM for graphics
- End-of-life and unsupported
- High heat output under load
Pros
- Powerful Iris Pro 6200 graphics for a dual-core chip
- High 3.1 GHz base clock
- Includes 128MB L4 eDRAM
- Hyper-Threading provides 4 threads
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- End-of-life and heavily outdated
- 47W TDP runs warm for a dual-core
- Soldered to the motherboard (BGA)
- Limited to DDR3 memory
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3630QMRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-4200MRival
Mobile
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4702HQRival
Mobile
Slight refresh with higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
Modern budget alternative with vastly better iGPU.
Modern budget gaming alternative.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Massive leap in mobile efficiency and performance.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i7-4720HQAlt
Better performing drop-in replacement.
Intel Core i5-5350H
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5557URival
Mobile
- AMD FX-8800PRival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i5-4278URival
Mobile
- NVIDIA GeForce 940M (paired with standard CPU)Rival
Mobile Graphics
- Alt
A modern ARM alternative that revolutionized mobile CPU and GPU performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
A modern mobile hexa-core that obliterates this chip in every possible metric.
A modern quad-core mobile chip with vastly superior Iris Xe graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300UAlt
A budget modern mobile quad-core that easily outperforms this older i5.
Our Verdict on Each
A reliable workhorse that powered countless mid-range gaming laptops, though obsolete by modern standards.
Best for: Locating an Intel Core i7-4700HQ today means searching the used market, as it has been end-of-life for several years. For consumers looking to purchase a budget-friendly used laptop, a machine equipped with this processor can still handle everyday tasks, light photo editing, and older games reasonably well. However, its 47-watt power draw and older 22nm architecture mean battery life will be subpar compared to modern ultrabooks. If you are repairing an existing laptop, this CPU remains a solid component, provided the motherboard and cooling system are in good condition. Do not invest in a system with this chip if your goal is modern AAA gaming or heavy video editing; the lack of modern instruction sets and single-core performance will be a severe bottleneck. Instead, view it as a capable retro-gaming or basic productivity companion.
Read the full reviewAn impressive mobile chip for its time, offering high-end integrated graphics on a dual-core design, though its CPU limits are apparent by modern standards.
Best for: Buying a very cheap used laptop for basic media consumption and light retro gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i7-4700HQ or Intel Core i5-5350H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-4700HQ leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i7-4700HQ and Intel Core i5-5350H.
Do Intel Core i7-4700HQ and Intel Core i5-5350H use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1364 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-4700HQ has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i7-4700HQ (4 cores), Intel Core i5-5350H (2 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-4700HQ posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-4700HQ (7,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.