i7-6870HQ vs i7-4790K

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1210	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.92	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Core i7 (Desktop)	Intel Core i7
Power efficiency	5.46	no data
Architecture codename	Devil's Canyon	Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date	June 2014 (10 years ago)	2 January 2016 (8 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$339	$434

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4790K 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	4 (Quad-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	8	8
Base clock speed	4 GHz	2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.4 GHz	3.6 GHz
Bus type	no data	DMI 3.0
Bus rate	5 GT/s	4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier	no data	27
L1 cache	64K (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1 MB
L3 cache	8 MB (shared)	8 MB
Chip lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Die size	177 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1,400 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4790K 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	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1150	FCBGA1440
Power consumption (TDP)	88 Watt	45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4790K 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	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	no data	128 MB
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Smart Response	no data	+
FDI	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	-	+
Identity Protection	+	-
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	+	+
Anti-Theft	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4790K 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 i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size	32 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4600	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580
Max video memory	2 GB	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.25 GHz	1 GHz
Execution Units	20	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
DVI	+	+
VGA	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	no data	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	3840x2160@24Hz	4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP	3840x2160@60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3840x2160@60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	1920x1200@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	11.2/12	12
OpenGL	4.3	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Pros & cons summary

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Integrated graphics card	1.84	4.77
Recency	on June 2014	2 January 2016
Chip lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	88 Watt	45 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6870HQ, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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