Intel Core i7-7700 vs Intel Core i3-10320

Intel Core i7-7700

The Intel Core i7-7700 is a fast quad-core processor for desktops based on the Kaby Lake architecture and was announced in January 2017. It is the top model of the 65 Watt consumer Kaby-Lake-H series at the time of the announcement. The faster CPUs, like the Core i7-7700K, are specified with 91 Watt. Besides four cores including Hyper-Threading (8 threads) support running at 3.6 - 4.2 GHz, the processor is also equipped with the HD Graphics 630 GPU as well as a dual-channel memory controller (DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2400). It is manufactured in a 14nm process with FinFET transistors.

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Skylake, so the per-MHz performance does not differ. The manufacturer only reworked the Speed Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of voltages and clocks, and the improved 14nm process allows much higher frequencies combined with better efficiency than before.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14nm process with FinFET transistors, which improves the efficiency slightly.

Intel Core i3-10320

The Intel Core i3-10320 is an entry level quad-core desktop processor based on the Comet Lake-S architecture (CML-S, 4th generation of Skylake). The processor clocks at between 3.8 and 4.6 GHz and can execute up to eight threads with its four cores simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. 

The processor is still manufactured in the old 14nm (14nm++) process. Thanks to the free multiplicator, the CPU can also be easily overclocked (but may not have much headroom).

The Comet Lake architecture is similar to Coffee Lake and offers the same features and is produced in the same 14nm process. Other than the improved clock rates, the memory controller now also supports faster DDR4-2933 RAM. More information on Comet Lake and all the models and articles on it can be found here.

Performance

The performance is similar to the old high end Intel Core i7-7700K due to the same architecture and similar clock speeds. 

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a similar performance as the UHD630 in the Core i7-9900K. As a  low-end solution it will only run current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 65 Watts (PL1) but under full load up to 90 Watt are consumed (PL2 for 28s).