Intel Core i7-7660U vs Intel Xeon E-2276M

Intel Core i7-7660U

The Intel Core i7-7660U is a fast dual-core SoC for notebooks and Ultrabooks based on the Kaby Lake architecture and was announced in January 2017. The CPU has two processor cores clocked at 2.5-4 GHz (two cores up to 3.8 GHz). The processor can execute up to four threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper Threading. It is also equipped with an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 GPU with 64 MB eDRAm, a dual-channel memory controller (DDR4) as well as VP9 and H.265 video decoding as well as encoding. The chip is still manufactured in a 14nm process with FinFET transistors.

Compared to the Core i7-7600U, the 7660 does have a higher single-core Turbo of 4 GHz (+100 MHz), but a lower dual-core Turbo (-100 MHz) and a lower base frequency (-300 MHz). However, the CPU part can also use the 64 MB eDRAM as L5 cache.

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Skylake, so the per-MHz performance does not differ. The manufacturer only reworked the Speed Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of voltages and clocks, and the improved 14nm process allows much higher frequencies combined with better efficiency than before.

Performance

At 2.5-4 GHz, the Core i7-7660U has a slightly lower frequency (except for the single-core Turbo) compared to the Core i7-7600U, but the CPU part can also use the 64 MB eDRAM, so the performance should be similar.

Graphics

The integrated Intel Iris Plus 640 Graphics is the GT3e model of the Kaby Lake GPU (Intel Gen. 9.5). It has 48 Execution Units running at 300-1050 MHz and the performance is comparable to a GeForce 920MX thanks to fast eDRAM cache. However, there aren't any significant improvements compared to the old Iris Pro 540, so modern games can often not be played smoothly or only at the lowest or medium settings, respectively.

Contrary to Skylake, Kaby lake now also supports H.265/HEVC Main 10 with a 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec. The dual-core Kaby Lake processors announced in January should also support HDCP 2.2.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14nm process with FinFET transistors, which improves the efficiency even further. Intel still specifies the TDP with 15 Watts, which is typical for ULV chips. Depending on the usage scenario, the TDP can vary between 7.5 (cTDP Down) and 25 Watts.

Intel Xeon E-2276M

The Intel Xeon E-2276M is a high-end processor for professional laptops with six cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture. The processor clocks at between 2.8 - 4.7 GHz and can execute up to twelve threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading / SMT. According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. Compared to the similar consumer Core i7-9850H, the mobile Xeon offers support for ECC main memory and clocks 100-200 MHz higher.

The Coffee Lake architecture is similar to Kaby Lake and differs only in the amount of cores (now six cores for the high end versions) and the improved 14nm process (14nm++ according to Intel).

Performance

The Xeon E-2276M is a high end processor in 2019 and therefore well suited for all tasks. Thanks to the high Turbo Boost, the single core performance is also very good. Long term performance however is very depending on good cooling and proper TDP settings and differs therefore for each laptop.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630 iGPU is the same as the old Intel HD Graphics P630 and the only difference to the UHD Graphics 630 in the consumer models are the professional drivers.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 45 watts and therefore the Xeon is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions.