Intel Core i3-8121U vs Intel Core i7-7820HK. Specifications, performance, tests

Comprehensive background on the processors being compared, detailing their series, generation, and targeted market segment.

• Segment
  Mobile Mobile
• Family
  Intel Core i3 Intel Core i7
• Generation
  8 7
• CPU group
  Intel Core i 8000U Intel Core i 7000H

Essential parameters including the number of cores, threads, base and turbo frequencies, and cache size. These metrics provide insight into the processor’s speed—higher values generally indicate better performance.

• Frequency
  2.20 GHz 2.90 GHz
• CPU Cores
  2 4
• Turbo (1 Core)
  3.20 GHz 3.90 GHz
• CPU Threads
  4 8
• Hyperthreading
  Yes Yes
• Overclocking
  No Yes
• Core architecture
  normal normal

The integrated graphics (iGPU) do not influence the CPU performance significantly; they serve as a substitute for a dedicated graphics card in the absence of one or are utilized in mobile devices.

• GPU name
  no iGPU Intel HD Graphics 630
• GPU frequency
  0.30 GHz
• GPU (Turbo)
  No turbo 1.10 GHz
• Execution units
  24
• Shader
  192
• Max. GPU Memory
  -- 64 GB
• Max. displays
  3
• Generation
  9.5
• DirectX Version
  12
• Technology
  14 nm
• Release date
  Q2/2016

This section details the built-in codecs used for encoding and decoding media content, which significantly enhance processing speed and efficiency.

• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  No Decode / Encode
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  No Decode / Encode
• h264
  No Decode / Encode
• VP9
  No Decode / Encode
• VP8
  No Decode / Encode
• AV1
  No No
• AVC
  No Decode / Encode
• VC-1
  No Decode
• JPEG
  No Decode / Encode

Overview of the types and quantities of RAM supported by Intel Core i7-7820HK and Intel Core i3-8121U. The supported memory frequencies may vary depending on the motherboard configuration.

• Memory type
  DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM
• ECC
  No No
• Memory channels
  2 2
• PCIe version
  3.0 3.0
• PCIe lanes
  16 20

• AES-NI
  Yes Yes

Analyze the TDP (Thermal Design Power) requirements of Intel Core i3-8121U and Intel Core i7-7820HK to make an informed decision on the appropriate cooling system. Remember that TDP refers to thermal watts, not electrical watts.

• TDP (PL1)
  15 W 45 W

Information on architecture, interfaces, and additional instructions supported by Intel Core i3-8121U and Intel Core i7-7820HK, including virtual machine technologies and fabrication processes.

• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit) x86-64 (64 bit)
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512 SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
• L3-Cache
  4.00 MB 8.00 MB
• Architecture
  Cannon Lake U Kaby Lake H
• Technology
  10 nm 14 nm
• Socket
  BGA 1356 BGA 1440
• Release date
  Q2/2018 Q1/2017