Intel Core i7 4770  vs 3770 

If you’re a power user, you need a blazing fast processor from Intel’s premier Core i7 line to power your rig. In this matchup, we’ll compare two fast chips worthy of your consideration: The Intel Core i7 4770 versus the Intel Core i7 3770.

These CPUs share a lot of similarities. Both are Quad cores clocking in at 3.4 GHz, with a cache of 8MB. They’re also hyperthreaded, which enables multiple threads to run on each core more efficiently. However, this i7 line has a locked multiplier which makes it unsuitable for overclocking. The K series has that feature, but it comes at a heftier price.

The biggest difference between these CPUs is that the 4770 is newer by an entire generation. Part of the Haswell line, it offers better integrated graphics (HD 4600 versus HD 4000) and a more power optimized architecture. But does this translate to better overall performance?

Looking at the benchmarks, the 4770 shows a meager 7% performance increase in PassMark’s standard and Single core tests. Geekbench and the overclocked test show similar results, which lead to the conclusion that the 3770 is able to hold its own against the newer 4770.

Wrapping up, the 4770 may be newer but it offers only marginal gains. Haswell’s best benefit lies in the laptop game, where the improved power consumption results to better battery life. But as far as desktop CPUs are concerned, we recommend the stable and reliable Intel Core i7 3770 over the Intel Core i7 4770.