Notebookcheck Logo

Intel Core i7-2629M vs Intel Core i7-2620M vs Intel Core i7-2960XM

Intel Core i7-2629M

► remove from comparison Intel 2629M

The Intel Core i7-2629M is power efficient LV (Low Voltage) processor for laptops. The base frequency of 2.1 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 3 GHz (on core loaded, 2.7 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i7-2629M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the similar called Core i7-2620M, the 2629M is slower but also needs less power (25W versus 35W TDP).

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 500 or 1100MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower base clock rate, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650), the performance should be a bit lower.

The performance of the CPU should be a bit higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i7 LV. Therefore, the performance should a bit above the Core i3-380M if the Turbo can be used often.

The TDP of 25W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2629M CPU in thin notebooks.

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 i7-2960XM

► remove from comparison Intel 2960XM

The Intel Core i7-2960XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops in Q3-2011 and successor to the Core i7-2920XM. Due to the Extreme Edition branding, the CPU should be easy to overclock (unlocked multiplicator). It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 8 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the previous Clarksdale quad-cores, the i7-2960XM is now manufactured in 32nm, offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the slower clocked 2860QM, the 2960XM is specified with a higher TDP.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 265Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo Boost and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. Furthermore, the integrated memory controller was improved and supports up to 8 GB DDR3-1333.

The Core i7-2960XM offers an integrated graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 3000) which proved to be clearly faster than the old Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs and on a level with entry level dedicated graphics cards like the GeForce 310M. The HD Graphics 3000 also supports Turbo Boost and clocks between 650 MHz and 1300 MHz in the i7-2920XM (therefore it should be similar or faster in the 2960XM). As the graphics card shares the fast last level cache, the processor is a bit slower with activated GPU.

Due to the high Turbo Boost, large L3 Cache, and Hyperthreading, the performance of the Core i7-2960XM is only slightly lower than the desktop Core i7-2600K. In 2011 it is the fastest mobile processors for laptops. Therefore, the performance should be sufficient for even the most demanding tasks like HD video editing or demanding 3D games.

The high TDP rating of the 2960XM enables the usage of the quad core only in large and heavy laptops (usually 15" and up). Compared to the previous generation (Clarkdale, e.g. Core i7-940XM) of quad-cores, however, the TDP improved, as the integrated GPU is now included.

ModelIntel Core i7-2629MIntel Core i7-2620MIntel Core i7-2960XM
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameSandy BridgeSandy BridgeSandy Bridge
Series: Core i7 Sandy Bridge
Intel Core i7-2960XM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M « 2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2960XM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M « 2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2960XM « 2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2100 - 3000 MHz2700 - 3400 MHz2700 - 3700 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB256 KB
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB1 MB
L3 Cache4 MB4 MB8 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 44 / 8
TDP25 Watt35 Watt55 Watt
Transistors624 Million624 Million995 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size149 mm2149 mm2216 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketBGA1023rPGA988B, BGA1023FCPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 500-1100MHz, integrated DDR3-1333 memory controller, Virtualization, Trusted Execution, Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost 2.0HD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000, DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (500 - 1100 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$311 U.S.$346 U.S.$1096 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 2620M +
min: 2.6     avg: 3     median: 3.1 (4%)     max: 3.11 Points
207%
1 2960XM +
6.3 Points (8%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 3532     avg: 4200     median: 4333 (26%)     max: 4384 Points
114%
1 2960XM +
4928 Points (30%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 7650     avg: 9124     median: 9433 (7%)     max: 9632 Points
194%
1 2960XM +
18300 Points (13%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 9634     avg: 11273     median: 11444 (8%)     max: 11711 Points
195%
1 2960XM +
22311 Points (15%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 4462     avg: 5325     median: 5412 (7%)     max: 5479 Points
114%
1 2960XM +
6184 Points (8%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 2620M +
min: 494     avg: 525     median: 505 (6%)     max: 594 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 2620M +
min: 11.56     avg: 16.3     median: 16.2 (3%)     max: 19.4 s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 2620M +
min: 3039     avg: 3753     median: 3827 (8%)     max: 3884 Points
178%
1 2960XM +
6820 Points (15%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 2620M +
min: 11     avg: 11.5     median: 11 (2%)     max: 14.3 s
100%
1 2960XM +
10 s (2%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 2620M +
min: 26     avg: 27.3     median: 27 (1%)     max: 32.9 s
100%
1 2960XM +
22 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 2620M +
min: 620     avg: 685     median: 640 (3%)     max: 1098 s
100%
1 2960XM +
568 s (3%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 53030     avg: 55805     median: 53870 (26%)     max: 62450 MIPS
224%
1 2960XM +
120900 MIPS (57%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 2620M +
min: 37790     avg: 37923     median: 37950 (29%)     max: 38000 MFLOPS
212%
1 2960XM +
80500 MFLOPS (62%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 2620M +
min: 6.9     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
107%
1 2960XM +
7.6 Points (97%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 2620M +
min: 8605     avg: 11161     median: 10271 (9%)     max: 21984 Points
226%
1 2960XM +
23249 Points (20%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 2620M +
min: 3296     avg: 3947     median: 4060 (11%)     max: 4362 Points
199%
1 2960XM +
8098 Points (22%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2620M → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2960XM → 0% n=

- 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

v1.26
log 28. 16:08:51

#0 checking url part for id 1580 +0s ... 0s

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

#2 checking url part for id 2846 +0s ... 0s

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

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#5 composed specs +0.041s ... 0.042s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.042s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 1580 +0.003s ... 0.045s

#8 got single benchmarks 1580 +0s ... 0.045s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 1497 +0.002s ... 0.048s

#10 got single benchmarks 1497 +0.072s ... 0.119s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 2846 +0.003s ... 0.122s

#12 got single benchmarks 2846 +0.009s ... 0.131s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.131s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.086s ... 0.217s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.217s

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)