Core i3-N305 vs Core i7-6870HQ

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	not rated	982
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	no data
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Alder Lake-N
Release date	24 January 2016 (8 years ago)	3 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$434	no data
Current price	$54 (0.1x MSRP)	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 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)	8 (Octa-Core)
Threads	8	8
Base clock speed	2.7 GHz	0.1 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	2 MB (per module)
L3 cache	8 MB	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	105 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 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
Socket	FCBGA1440	FCBGA1264
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305. 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	+	+
FMA	no data	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	128 MB	no data
Speed Shift	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	-	no data
Smart Response	+	no data
GPIO	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	no data
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	no data
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	64 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	1
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	-	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580	Intel UHD Graphics
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1 GHz	1.25 GHz
Execution Units	no data	32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	4096 x 2160@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	4096 x 2160@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	9
USB revision	no data	2.0/3.2

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	24 January 2016	3 January 2023
Physical cores	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-N305, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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