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Intel Core i7 620M

Intel 620M

The Intel Core i7-620M is a high end dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.66 to 3.33 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westemere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Therefore, the i7-620M is related to the other i5 and i3 dual core CPUs and not the quad-core i7 CPUs.

A feature of the new Core i7-620M is the integrated graphics card called Intel HD Graphics (GMA HD) and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The performance of the Core i7-620M is on average above the former fastest mobile dual core CPU, the Core 2 Duo T9900 / X9100. In our tests, just the single threaded rendering test in the Cinebench R10 benchmark scored less points. Even the mobile Core i7-720QM quad core is slower in many cases. 

The 32nm CPU cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Compared to the slower i5 versions without AES features, the 3DMark Vantage Communication Score showed a significant increase with AES enabled CPUs.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is clocked with 500-733 MHz and performs clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a bit faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now).

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone).

The Core i7-620M should not be mistaken with the similar named but slower low voltage and ultra low voltage chips Core i7-620LM (2.13-2.93 GHz, 25W) and Core i7-620UM (1.2-2.26 GHz, 18 W).

SeriesIntel Core i7
CodenameArrandale
Clock Rate2660 - 3333 MHz
Front Side Bus2500 MHz
Level 2 Cache512 KB
Level 3 Cache4096 KB
Number of Cores / Threads2 / 4
Max. Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)35 Watt
Transistor Count382+177 Million
Manufacturing Technology32 nm
Die Size81+114 mm2
Max. Temperature105 °C
SocketBGA1288, PGA988
FeaturesTurbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 500-733MHz, Dual Channel DDR3 memory controller
64 Bit64 Bit support
Hardware VirtualizationVT-x
Starting Price $332 U.S.
Announcement Date01/10/2010
Product Link (external)Intel Core i7 620M

CPU Benchmarks

3DMark 06 - CPU:
0% min:2943, avg:3056.35714286, max:3165min:2943, avg:3056.35714286, max:3165min:2943, avg:3056.35714286, max:3165min:2943, avg:3056.35714286, max:3165min:2943, avg:3056.35714286, max:3165 100%
min: 2943     avg: 3056 (41%)     max: 3165 Points
Super Pi 1M:
0% min:13, avg:13.14075, max:13.51min:13, avg:13.14075, max:13.51min:13, avg:13.14075, max:13.51min:13, avg:13.14075, max:13.51 100%
min: 13     avg: 13 (3%)     max: 13.51 Seconds
Super Pi 2M:
0% min:32, avg:32.7962857143, max:34min:32, avg:32.7962857143, max:34min:32, avg:32.7962857143, max:34 100%
min: 32     avg: 33 (1%)     max: 34 Seconds
Super Pi 32M:
0% min:768, avg:781.557, max:799min:768, avg:781.557, max:799min:768, avg:781.557, max:799 100%
min: 768     avg: 782 (3%)     max: 799 Seconds
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS):
0% min:35248, avg:37324, max:39400min:35248, avg:37324, max:39400min:35248, avg:37324, max:39400min:35248, avg:37324, max:39400min:35248, avg:37324, max:39400 100%
min: 35248     avg: 37324 (25%)     max: 39400 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS):
0% min:27110, avg:29388.3333333, max:32430min:27110, avg:29388.3333333, max:32430min:27110, avg:29388.3333333, max:32430min:27110, avg:29388.3333333, max:32430min:27110, avg:29388.3333333, max:32430 100%
min: 27110     avg: 29388 (28%)     max: 32430 MFLOPS
PCMark 05: Standard 1024x768
0% min:6832, avg:6832, max:6832min:6832, avg:6832, max:6832min:6832, avg:6832, max:6832 100%
min: 6832     avg: 6832 (77%)     max: 6832 Points
PCMark Vantage: Result 1024x768
0% min:5575, avg:7345.45454545, max:10611min:5575, avg:7345.45454545, max:10611min:5575, avg:7345.45454545, max:10611min:5575, avg:7345.45454545, max:10611min:5575, avg:7345.45454545, max:10611 100%
min: 5575     avg: 7345 (69%)     max: 10611 Points
Cinebench R10: Rendering Single 32Bit
0% min:3346, avg:3445, max:3560min:3346, avg:3445, max:3560min:3346, avg:3445, max:3560min:3346, avg:3445, max:3560min:3346, avg:3445, max:3560 100%
min: 3346     avg: 3445 (72%)     max: 3560 Points
Cinebench R10: Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
0% min:7002, avg:7547.27272727, max:7810min:7002, avg:7547.27272727, max:7810min:7002, avg:7547.27272727, max:7810min:7002, avg:7547.27272727, max:7810 100%
min: 7002     avg: 7547 (33%)     max: 7810 Points
Cinebench R10: Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
0% min:7996, avg:9028.41666667, max:9399min:7996, avg:9028.41666667, max:9399min:7996, avg:9028.41666667, max:9399min:7996, avg:9028.41666667, max:9399min:7996, avg:9028.41666667, max:9399 100%
min: 7996     avg: 9028 (33%)     max: 9399 Points
Cinebench R10: Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
0% min:3611, avg:4218.33333333, max:4422min:3611, avg:4218.33333333, max:4422min:3611, avg:4218.33333333, max:4422min:3611, avg:4218.33333333, max:4422min:3611, avg:4218.33333333, max:4422 100%
min: 3611     avg: 4218 (84%)     max: 4422 Points
3DMark Vantage: P CPU no PhysX 1280x1024
0% min:8227, avg:8616.22222222, max:8840min:8227, avg:8616.22222222, max:8840min:8227, avg:8616.22222222, max:8840min:8227, avg:8616.22222222, max:8840min:8227, avg:8616.22222222, max:8840 100%
min: 8227     avg: 8616 (27%)     max: 8840 Points
wPrime: 32m
0% min:16, avg:22.696875, max:39.248min:16, avg:22.696875, max:39.248min:16, avg:22.696875, max:39.248min:16, avg:22.696875, max:39.248min:16, avg:22.696875, max:39.248 100%
min: 16     avg: 23 (8%)     max: 39.248 seconds
wPrime: 1024m
0% min:524.115, avg:749.563571429, max:1253.306min:524.115, avg:749.563571429, max:1253.306min:524.115, avg:749.563571429, max:1253.306min:524.115, avg:749.563571429, max:1253.306min:524.115, avg:749.563571429, max:1253.306 100%
min: 524.115     avg: 750 (9%)     max: 1253.306 seconds
Windows 7 Experience Index: Processor
0% min:6.5, avg:6.81666666667, max:6.9min:6.5, avg:6.81666666667, max:6.9min:6.5, avg:6.81666666667, max:6.9min:6.5, avg:6.81666666667, max:6.9min:6.5, avg:6.81666666667, max:6.9 100%
min: 6.5     avg: 7 (91%)     max: 6.9 points
Cinebench R11.5: CPU 64Bit
0% min:2.28, avg:2.41833333333, max:2.53min:2.28, avg:2.41833333333, max:2.53min:2.28, avg:2.41833333333, max:2.53min:2.28, avg:2.41833333333, max:2.53min:2.28, avg:2.41833333333, max:2.53 100%
min: 2.28     avg: 2 (27%)     max: 2.53 Points
- Range of benchmarks for this CPU
- Average benchmark score

Cinebench R10 in comparison
Intel Atom Z520 (min)
706 
...
Intel Core i5 540M
6983 
Intel Core i5 460M
7085 
Intel Core 2 Extreme X9100
7299 
Intel Core i7 620M
7547 
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000
8059 
Intel Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q6600
8800 
Intel Core i7 720QM
8870 
...
Intel Core i7 (Desktop) 980X EE (max)
23150 

Reviews for the Intel Core i7 620M processor

Acer Aspire 4745 (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 14.0")
» Acer Aspire 4745 - External Review

Acer Aspire 4820TG (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 14.0")
» Acer Aspire 4820TG - External Review

Acer Aspire 4820TG-624G16Mnks (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 14.1")
» Acer Aspire 4820TG-624G16Mnks - External Review

Acer Aspire 5942G-728G64BN (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 15.6")
» Acer Aspire 5942G-728G64BN - External Review

Acer Aspire 5943G (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850, 15.6")
» Acer Aspire 5943G - External Review

Alienware M17x (HD 4870x2) (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2, 17.0")
» Review Alienware M17x (i7/HD 4870 X2) Notebook - Review
» Alienware M17x (HD 4870x2) - External Review

Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch i7 2010-04 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, 15.4")
» Review Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch i7 2010-04 Notebook - Review
» Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch i7 2010-04 - External Review

Asus N82JV (NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M, 14")
» Review Asus N82JV Notebook - Review
» Asus N82JV - External Review

Asus U53F (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 15.6")
» Asus U53F - External Review

Dell Latitude E5410 (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 14.1")
» Dell Latitude E5410 - External Review

Dell Latitude E5510 (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 15.6")
» Dell Latitude E5510 - External Review

Dell Latitude E6410 (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 14.1")
» Review Dell Latitude E6410 Notebook - Review
» Dell Latitude E6410 - External Review

Fujitsu Lifebook S760 (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 13.3")
» Review Fujitsu Lifebook S760 Notebook - Review
» Fujitsu Lifebook S760 - External Review

Fujitsu LifeBook SH760 (NVIDIA GeForce 310M, 13.3")
» Fujitsu LifeBook SH760 - External Review

HP EliteBook 8440w (NVIDIA Quadro FX 380M, 14.0")
» HP EliteBook 8440w - External Review

HP Elitebook 8540w (NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M, 15.6")
» Review HP Elitebook 8540w Notebook - Review
» HP Elitebook 8540w - External Review

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 2522-3FG (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M, 14.1")
» Review Lenovo Thinkpad T410 2522-3FG Notebook - Review
» Lenovo Thinkpad T410 2522-3FG - External Review

Lenovo Thinkpad T510 - 4349-4JG (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M, 15.6")
» Review Lenovo Thinkpad T510 - 4349-4JG Notebook - Review
» Lenovo Thinkpad T510 - 4349-4JG - External Review

Lenovo ThinkPad T510-NTH4JGE (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M, 15.6")
» Lenovo ThinkPad T510-NTH4JGE - External Review

Micro Express KHL9070 (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 15.6")
» Micro Express KHL9070 - External Review

MSI GT660 (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M, 16.0")
» MSI GT660 - External Review

mySN QMG6 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M, 15.6")
» Review mySN QMG6 / Chiligreen Mobilitas NW (Quanta TW9) Notebook - Review
» mySN QMG6 - External Review

Packard Bell EasyNote TJ75-JP151 (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 15.6")
» Packard Bell EasyNote TJ75-JP151 - External Review

Sony Vaio VPCZ117 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, 13.1")
» Sony Vaio VPCZ117 - External Review

Sony Vaio VPCZ11Z9E (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, 13.1")
» Sony Vaio VPCZ11Z9E - External Review

Sony Vaio VPCZ11Z9E/B (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, 13.1")
» Sony Vaio VPCZ11Z9E/B - External Review

Toshiba Qosmio X500-111 (NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M, 18.4")
» Toshiba Qosmio X500-111 - External Review

Toshiba Tecra A11-S3540 (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 2100M, 15.6")
» Toshiba Tecra A11-S3540 - External Review

Toshiba Tecra M11-11M (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 14.0")
» Toshiba Tecra M11-11M - External Review

ZAReason Verix (NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M, 15.4")
» ZAReason Verix - External Review

» Mobile CPU Comparison
Comparison of all mobile CPU series

» Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist
Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)

Other CPUs of the series Intel Core i7

» Intel Core i7 940XM
   2.13 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
» Intel Core i7 920XM
   2 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
» Intel Core i7 840QM
   1.86 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
» Intel Core i7 820QM
   1.73 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
» Intel Core i7 620M
   2.66 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
» Intel Core i7 740QM
   1.73 GHz / 1024 KB + 6144 KB
» Intel Core i7 720QM
   1.6 GHz / 1024 KB + 6144 KB
» Intel Core i7 640LM
   2.13 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
» Intel Core i7 620LM
   2 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
» Intel Core i7 660UM
   1.33 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
» Intel Core i7 640UM
   1.2 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
» Intel Core i7 620UM
   1.06 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB

Surrounding CPUs

- Intel Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550
   2.83 GHz / 12268 KB
- Intel Core i7 840QM
   1.86 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
- Intel Core i7 820QM
   1.73 GHz / 1024 KB + 8196 KB
- Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300
   2.53 GHz / 12268 KB
- Intel Core 2 Extreme (Desktop) QX6700
   2.67 GHz / 8192 KB
» Intel Core i7 620M
   2.66 GHz / 512 KB + 4096 KB
+ Intel Core i5 580M
   2.67 GHz / 512 KB + 3072 KB
+ Intel Core i7 740QM
   1.73 GHz / 1024 KB + 6144 KB
+ Intel Core i7 720QM
   1.6 GHz / 1024 KB + 6144 KB
+ Intel Core 2 Extreme X9100
   3.06 GHz / 6144 KB
+ Intel Core 2 Duo T9900
   3.06 GHz / 6134 KB

 

Author: Klaus Hinum, 2009-11-30 (Update: 2010-05-29)
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