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Intel Core i7-5700HQ

Intel Core i7-5700HQ in 2025: Is it Worth Getting a Laptop with This Processor?

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ processor, released in 2015, was once a top-tier solution for mobile workstations and gaming laptops. A decade later, its relevance raises questions, but it can still be found on the secondary market and in some budget models. Let's explore who might find this "veteran" useful in 2025 and what pitfalls to consider.

1. Architecture and Technology Process: What's Inside?

Key Specifications

- Codename: Broadwell.

- Technology Process: 14 nm.

- Cores and Threads: 4 cores, 8 threads due to Hyper-Threading.

- Frequencies: Base – 2.7 GHz, turbo mode – up to 3.5 GHz.

- Cache: 6 MB L3.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5600 (base frequency – 300 MHz, maximum – 1050 MHz).

Architectural Features

Broadwell brought several key improvements over the previous Haswell generation:

- Increased IPC (Instructions per Clock): By 5-10% due to pipeline optimization.

- Energy Efficiency: Reduced core voltage and improved power management.

- Integrated Graphics: HD Graphics 5600 supports DirectX 11.2 and 4K output via DisplayPort, but for 2025 games, its capabilities are no longer sufficient.

What does this mean today? Even in 2025, 4 cores and 8 threads allow for comfortable use of office applications and browsing, but for professional tasks (rendering, 4K video editing), the processor will noticeably lag behind modern models.

2. Power Consumption and TDP: The Cost of Performance

- TDP: 47W – this is a high figure even for gaming laptops in 2025 (modern Intel Core i7-13620H has a TDP of 45W while delivering double the performance).

- Heat Dissipation: An efficient cooling system is required for stable operation. In thin laptops from 2015-2018 with this processor, throttling (frequency reduction due to overheating) was often observed.

- Idle Power Consumption: The Intel SpeedStep technology reduces the frequency to 800 MHz under minimal load, saving battery life.

Practical Tip: When buying a used laptop with the i7-5700HQ, check the condition of the thermal paste and fans. Overheating is a common problem for such devices.

3. Performance: What Can the Processor Do in 2025?

Real-World Task Tests

- Office Work (Word, Excel, Browser): Geekbench 6 Single Core results (1095) are comparable to budget processors in 2025 like the Intel Core i3-1215U (1100-1200 points). Multitasking (8 threads) allows keeping a dozen tabs and background applications without lag.

- Multimedia:

- Video conversion to 1080p (HandBrake): 30-40% slower than the Intel Core i5-1240P.

- Photo editors (Lightroom): Acceptable speed for basic retouching, but AI-based filters (like neural noise reducers) will operate extremely slowly.

- Gaming:

- Paired with a discrete graphics card like the NVIDIA GTX 965M (a common option for laptops from 2015-2017), the processor can handle older titles like The Witcher 3 on medium settings (30-40 FPS at 1080p).

- Modern games (2023-2025) are limited by insufficient IPC and restricted support for new instructions. Even in Cyberpunk 2077 (minimum settings), frame drops below 30 FPS can occur.

Turbo Boost Mode

The maximum frequency of 3.5 GHz is achieved only on a single core and briefly. Under full load of all cores, the frequency drops to 3.1-3.2 GHz, which reduces performance in multi-threaded tasks.

4. Use Case Scenarios: Who Should Consider the i7-5700HQ?

- Students and Office Workers: For document work, Zoom conferences, and watching YouTube.

- Retro Gamers: To run games from the 2010s (e.g., GTA V, Skyrim).

- Budget Users: If a laptop with this processor is sold for $300-$400 (new, but with outdated components), it can serve as a temporary solution.

Not Recommended:

- For 4K video editing, 3D modeling.

- For modern open-world games and Ray Tracing.

5. Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

Laptops with the i7-5700HQ typically came with 50-60 Wh batteries. With active usage (browser + office applications), battery life would be 3-4 hours. In 2025, battery capacity may have decreased by 20-30%, reducing longevity to 2-3 hours.

Energy-saving Technologies:

- Intel Smart Connect: Background application updates while in sleep mode.

- C-States: Turning off unused processor components.

Advice: Replace the battery with a new one if possible. Disable Turbo Boost in power settings to extend battery life.

6. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD FX-8800P (2015): Weaker in single-thread performance but integrated Radeon R7 graphics fared slightly better for gaming. By 2025, both processors are morally outdated.

- Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake, 2016): 10-15% faster due to architectural optimizations, but also outdated.

- Apple M1 (2020): Even the first generation M1 outperforms the i7-5700HQ in multi-threaded tasks by 2-3 times with a TDP of 15W.

Conclusion: In 2025, the i7-5700HQ is outperformed by even budget newcomers like the Intel Core i3-N305 (7W, 8 cores) or AMD Ryzen 3 7320U.

7. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.

- Supports 32GB DDR3L-1600/1866 MHz (relevant for upgrading old laptops).

- Reliability: a time-tested architecture.

Weaknesses:

- High power consumption.

- No support for modern technologies: PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, AVX-512.

- Outdated integrated graphics.

8. Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you still decide to buy a device with the i7-5700HQ in 2025, pay attention to:

- Type of Laptop: Only gaming models or workstations with discrete graphics (like NVIDIA GTX 950M/960M). Ultrabooks with this CPU are rare due to heat dissipation.

- Upgradability: Presence of an SSD slot (preferably NVMe via an adapter), possibility to increase RAM to 16-32 GB.

- Screen: Full HD (1920×1080) is the minimum comfortable option. Avoid models with HD (1366×768).

Examples of Laptops (New, 2025): Rare, but some brands (like Chuwi, Teclast) release budget models with such CPUs for developing markets. Price – $350-500.

9. Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ in 2025 is a choice for:

- Economical users needing a laptop for study or text work.

- Enthusiasts willing to buy a device for upgrading (e.g., installing SSD and increasing RAM).

- Retro gamers collecting old games.

Key Benefits: Low cost (on the secondary market – $150-250), proven reliability, and easy upgrade options. However, for modern tasks, it's better to consider laptops with Intel Alder Lake-N or AMD Ryzen 5000/7000 series processors.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

June 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i7-5700HQ

Code Name

Broadwell

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.70 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

6 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1364

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

47 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

105°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x16 or 2x8 or 1x8 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3L 1600/1866 LPDDR3 1600/1866

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 6200

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.05 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

11.2/12

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

2560x1600@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/VGA

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.3

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1095

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

3234

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

842

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3004

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2008

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

6009

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-3340

1168 +6.7%

Ryzen Embedded R2544

1132 +3.4%

Core i7-5700HQ

1095

Ryzen 3 PRO 3200G

1059 -3.3%

Ryzen 5 2400G

1006 -8.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2650L

3693 +14.2%

Xeon E3-1230 v3

3477 +7.5%

Core i7-5700HQ

3234

Core i3-1210U

3024 -6.5%

Ryzen 5 3550H

2832 -12.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2622 v3

875 +3.9%

Ryzen 5 1500X

860 +2.1%

Core i7-5700HQ

842

Ryzen Embedded V2A46

825 -2%

Core i7-7560U

808 -4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1275

3251 +8.2%

Core i5-8260U

3146 +4.7%

Core i7-5700HQ

3004

Xeon D-1520

2850 -5.1%

FX-8320

2723 -9.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2687W

2058 +2.5%

EPYC 7642

2036 +1.4%

Core i7-5700HQ

2008

Pentium G3460

1982 -1.3%

Core i7-6820HQ

1955 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E3-1240L v5

6446 +7.3%

Core i7-4860HQ

6242 +3.9%

Core i7-5700HQ

6009

Core i5-4690

5688 -5.3%

Xeon E5-2609

5443 -9.4%