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Intel Core i7-2630QM vs Intel Core i7-2960XM vs Intel Core i7-2920XM

Intel Core i7-2630QM

► remove from comparison Intel 2630QM

The Intel Core i7-2630QM is a fast quad core processor for laptops. 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 i7-2630QM is now manufactured in 32nm and offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. The difference to the similar 2635QM is the slower Turbo Boost clock rate for the integrated GPU (1100MHz versus 1300MHz) and the different package (rPGA versus BGA). Compared to the faster Core i7, the 2630QM does not feature the Trusted Execution and the VT-d functions.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 265Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. 

Der i7-2630QM 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 2630QM it is clocked from 650-1100MHz (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.

The performance of the Core i7-2630QM should be about 10-15% faster than a similar clocked Clarksfield Core i7 (see first tests by Anandtech). Therefore, the 2630QM should be on a level (or even faster) than a Core i7-920XM Quad-Core.

The quad core CPU is still rated at 45 Watt TDP but now the integrated graphics card is also included (compared to the old Clarksfield Quad Core processors).

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.

Intel Core i7-2920XM

► remove from comparison Intel 2920XM

The Intel Core i7-2920XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops in Q1-2011. 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 i7-2920XM is now manufactured in 32nm, offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the slower clocked 2820QM, the 2920XM is specified with a higher TDP.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 256Bit 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 i7-2920XM 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. 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 and Hyperthreading, the performance of the Core i7-2920XM can reach levels of the fast desktop Core i5-2500K processor. Compared to the previous generation, the i7-2920XM is up to 42% faster than the old Core i7-940XM processor. Therefore, the performance should be sufficient for even the most demanding tasks like HD video editing or 3D games. Extensive benchmarks can be found at the end of this page and in our review of the new Sandy Bridge quad core processors.

The high TDP rating of the 2920XM enables the usage of the quad core only in large and heavy laptops (usually 15" and up). Compared to the previous generation of quad-cores, however, the TDP improved, as the integrated GPU is now included.

ModelIntel Core i7-2630QMIntel Core i7-2960XMIntel Core i7-2920XM
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 i7-2630QM « 2 - 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
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
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 i7-2920XM « 2.5 - 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
Clock2000 - 2900 MHz2700 - 3700 MHz2500 - 3500 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB256 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB1 MB
L3 Cache6 MB8 MB8 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 84 / 8
TDP45 Watt55 Watt55 Watt
Transistors995 Million995 Million995 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size216 mm2216 mm2216 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketFCPGA988FCPGA988FCPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1100MHz), DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization (VT-x)HD Graphics 3000, DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333/1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1100 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com
$1096 U.S.$1096 U.S.

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 3.89     avg: 4.7     median: 4.8 (6%)     max: 5.04 Points
6.3 Points (8%)
min: 5.7     avg: 6     median: 6 (8%)     max: 6.2 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 3449     avg: 3653     median: 3662 (22%)     max: 3772 Points
4928 Points (30%)
min: 4282     avg: 4387     median: 4378.5 (26%)     max: 4507 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 11111     avg: 13692     median: 13833 (10%)     max: 14394 Points
18300 Points (13%)
min: 16067     avg: 16949     median: 17187.5 (12%)     max: 17355 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 13512     avg: 16643     median: 16803 (12%)     max: 17347 Points
22311 Points (15%)
min: 19727     avg: 20763     median: 20959 (15%)     max: 21407 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 4325     avg: 4558     median: 4569 (6%)     max: 4679 Points
6184 Points (8%)
min: 5343     avg: 5525     median: 5565 (7%)     max: 5628 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 313.2     avg: 331.9     median: 325.6 (4%)     max: 435 s
101%
1 2920XM +
min: 264.9     avg: 276.9     median: 273.8 (3%)     max: 295 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 9.7     avg: 10.3     median: 10.1 (2%)     max: 12.5 s
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 8.29     avg: 8.5     median: 8.4 (2%)     max: 8.9 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 3296     avg: 3923     median: 3923 (6%)     max: 4550 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 30.4     avg: 30.8     median: 30.8 (11%)     max: 31.2 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 129.4     avg: 131.4     median: 131.4 (30%)     max: 133.4 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 0.293     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (0%)     max: 0.296 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 0.508     avg: 0.5     median: 0.5 (9%)     max: 0.521 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 2.8     avg: 3     median: 3 (8%)     max: 3.1 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 4050     avg: 4912     median: 5039 (11%)     max: 5127 Points
6820 Points (15%)
min: 5944     avg: 6100     median: 6131 (13%)     max: 6206 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 13     avg: 13.2     median: 13 (3%)     max: 14.2 s
10 s (2%)
min: 10     avg: 10.5     median: 10 (2%)     max: 11.7 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 29     avg: 30.4     median: 30.2 (1%)     max: 32 s
22 s (1%)
min: 24     avg: 24.6     median: 24 (1%)     max: 25.9 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 713     avg: 730     median: 728.5 (3%)     max: 778 s
568 s (3%)
min: 580     avg: 600     median: 594 (3%)     max: 620 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
98320 MIPS (47%)
120900 MIPS (57%)
min: 118300     avg: 121717     median: 121780 (58%)     max: 125070 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
min: 59250     avg: 60255     median: 60255 (46%)     max: 61260 MFLOPS
80500 MFLOPS (62%)
min: 71200     avg: 74190     median: 75680 (58%)     max: 75690 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 9075     avg: 10547     median: 10547 (22%)     max: 12019 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
min: 7.4     avg: 7.4     median: 7.4 (95%)     max: 7.5 Points
7.6 Points (97%)
min: 7.5     avg: 7.6     median: 7.6 (97%)     max: 7.6 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 12879     avg: 16949     median: 17369 (15%)     max: 25328 Points
23249 Points (20%)
min: 20540     avg: 21107     median: 21148 (19%)     max: 21592 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 4628     avg: 5796     median: 5933.5 (16%)     max: 6358 Points
8098 Points (22%)
min: 7804     avg: 7915     median: 7914.5 (21%)     max: 8025 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 28688     avg: 29084     median: 29084 (24%)     max: 29480 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 4012     avg: 4158     median: 4157.5 (11%)     max: 4303 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 2630QM +
5788 Points (10%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2630QM → 100% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2960XM → 124% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2920XM → 118% n=14

- 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
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#15 return log +0s ... 0.487s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)