Notebookcheck Logo

Intel Core i7-2620M vs Intel Core i7-2617M

Intel Core i7-2620M

► remove from comparison Intel 2620M

The Intel Core i7-2620M is the fastest dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q1 2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the slower Core i5, the i7 offers a larger last level cache of 4MB. The base clock speed is 2.7 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 3.2 GHz (2 cores active) and 3.4 GHz (1 core active).

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 256Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. 

Der i7-2620M offers an integrated graphics card ( Intel HD Graphics 3000) which is clearly faster then the older Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs. As the new GPU is included in the CPU, it is also manufactured in 32nm and shares the fast level 3 cache with the CPU cores (using a new ring bus). In the 2620M it is clocked from 650-1300MHz (Turbo Boost).

Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included on the CPU die that is used by the CPU and GPU part.

Due to the improved architecture and the new Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i7-2620M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i7. In synthetic benchmarks the performance ranges from the old Core i7-620M to the Core i7-820QM quad core processor. On average it should be on a level of the fast Core i7-640M.

The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller.

Intel Core i7-2617M

► remove from comparison Intel 2617M

The Intel Core i7-2617M is power efficient ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor for thin and light laptops. The base frequency of 1.5 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 2.6 GHz (on core loaded, 2.3 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i7-2617M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the slower i5-2537M, the 2617M offers a higher clock speed (processor core and turbo, graphics turbo) and more last level cache.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements is the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. 

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 clocked at 350 or 950MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower clock rate, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650-1100/1300MHz in non LV processors), the performance should be noticeable lower.

The performance of the CPU should be a bit higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. Therefore, the performance should be similar to a Core i3-350M if the Turbo can be used often.

The TDP of 17W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2617M CPU in small subnotebooks.

show full text
ModelIntel Core i7-2620MIntel Core i7-2617M
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameSandy BridgeSandy Bridge
Series: Core i7 Sandy Bridge
Intel Core i7-2960XM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM compare2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM compare2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM compare2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM compare2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM compare2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M compare2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M « 2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M compare2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M compare2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M compare1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M compare1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M compare1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2960XM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM compare2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM compare2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM compare2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM compare2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM compare2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M compare2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M compare2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M compare2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M compare1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M compare1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M compare1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M « 1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2700 - 3400 MHz1500 - 2600 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache4 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 4
TDP35 Watt17 Watt
Transistors624 Million624 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm
Die Size149 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketrPGA988B, BGA1023BGA1023
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (350 - 950 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
$346 U.S.$100 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 2.6     avg: 3     median: 3.1 (4%)     max: 3.11 Points
2.1 Points (3%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 3532     avg: 4200     median: 4333 (26%)     max: 4384 Points
3315 Points (20%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 7650     avg: 9124     median: 9433 (7%)     max: 9632 Points
6690 Points (5%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 9634     avg: 11273     median: 11444 (8%)     max: 11711 Points
8113 Points (6%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 4462     avg: 5325     median: 5412 (7%)     max: 5479 Points
4143 Points (5%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 494     avg: 525     median: 505 (6%)     max: 594 s
783 s (9%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 11.56     avg: 16.3     median: 16.2 (3%)     max: 19.4 s
24.1 s (5%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 3039     avg: 3753     median: 3827 (8%)     max: 3884 Points
2762 Points (6%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 11     avg: 11.5     median: 11 (2%)     max: 14.3 s
15.3 s (3%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 26     avg: 27.3     median: 27 (1%)     max: 32.9 s
34.8 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 620     avg: 685     median: 640 (3%)     max: 1098 s
817 s (4%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 53030     avg: 55805     median: 53870 (26%)     max: 62450 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 37790     avg: 37923     median: 37950 (29%)     max: 38000 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 2620M +
min: 6.9     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 8605     avg: 11161     median: 10271 (9%)     max: 21984 Points
7233 Points (6%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 2620M +
min: 3296     avg: 3947     median: 4060 (11%)     max: 4362 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2620M → 100% n=12

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2617M → 83% n=12

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Add one or more devices and compare

In the following list you can select (and also search for) devices that should be added to the comparison. You can select more than one device.

restrict list:

show all (including archived), 2024, 2023
v1.26
log 19. 11:01:44

#0 checking url part for id 1497 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 1578 +0s ... 0s

#2 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#3 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:38:49 +0200 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#4 composed specs +0.03s ... 0.032s

#5 did output specs +0s ... 0.032s

#6 getting avg benchmarks for device 1497 +0.004s ... 0.035s

#7 got single benchmarks 1497 +0.107s ... 0.142s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 1578 +0.004s ... 0.146s

#9 got single benchmarks 1578 +0.013s ... 0.158s

#10 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.158s

#11 min, max, avg, median took s +0.13s ... 0.289s

#12 return log +0.032s ... 0.32s

Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)