i7-6870HQ vs i3-7020U

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2047	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i3	Intel Core i7
Architecture codename	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date	10 April 2018 (6 years ago)	2 January 2016 (8 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$281	$434

Detailed specifications

Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	2.3 GHz	2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	2.3 GHz	3.6 GHz
Bus type	OPI	DMI 3.0
Bus rate	4 GT/s	4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier	23	27
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1 MB
L3 cache	3 MB	8 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCBGA1356,FC-BGA1356,FPBGA1356	FCBGA1440
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	no data	128 MB
Speed Shift	+	no data
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	-	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Smart Response	+	+
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	+
Identity Protection	+	-
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	+
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size	32 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 620	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580
Max video memory	32 GB	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1 GHz	1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
DVI	+	+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	12	16

Pros & cons summary

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Integrated graphics card	2.42	4.77
Recency	10 April 2018	2 January 2016
Physical cores	2	4
Threads	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	45 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-7020U and Core i7-6870HQ, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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