Notebookcheck Logo

Intel Core i7-2637M vs Intel Core i7-2960XM vs Intel Core i7-2640M

Intel Core i7-2637M

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i7-2637M is power efficient ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor for thin and light laptops. The base frequency of 1.7 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 2.8 GHz (on core loaded, 2.5 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this depends on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i7-2637M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the slower i7-2617M, the 2637M offers a higher clock speed (processor core and turbo, graphics turbo).

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most notable 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 1200MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower clock rate without the Turbo, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650 base speed 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. Thanks to the high Turbo Boost frequencies, the performance should be similar to the Core i3-2310M. However, the laptop cooling system has to keep the processor relatively cool for the Turbo Boost to work often.

The TDP of 17W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2637M CPU in small subnotebooks.

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 i7-2640M

► remove from comparison Intel 2640M

The Intel Core i7-2640M is the fastest dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q3 2011 and successor of the slower clocked i7-2620M. 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 2.8 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 3.3 GHz (2 cores active) and 3.5 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 i7-2640M 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), and in the 2640M it should be similar.

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 i7-2640M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i7 dual core. The performance should even excel the old high-end quad core models like the Core i7-820QM.

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

ModelIntel Core i7-2637MIntel Core i7-2960XMIntel Core i7-2640M
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 i7-2629M2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M « 1.7 - 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 i7-2920XM2.5 - 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 i7-2640M « 2.8 - 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
Clock1700 - 2800 MHz2700 - 3700 MHz2800 - 3500 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache512 KB1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache4 MB8 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 44 / 82 / 4
TDP17 Watt55 Watt35 Watt
Transistors624 Million995 Million624 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size149 mm2216 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketBGA1023FCPGA988
FeaturesTurbo Boost 2.0, Hyper-Threading, Virtualization VT-x, Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d), Trusted Execution, AES, Intel 64, Anti-Theft, My WiFi, Idle States, Enhanced SpeedStep, Thermal Monitorin, Execute Disable BitHD Graphics 3000, DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000, DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (350 - 1200 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$289 U.S.$1096 U.S.$346 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 2637M +
201 Points (1%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 2637M +
93 Points (28%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 2.19     avg: 2.2     median: 2.2 (3%)     max: 2.25 Points
6.3 Points (8%)
min: 3.07     avg: 3.1     median: 3.2 (4%)     max: 3.2 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 2637M +
1.1 Points (27%)
125%
1 2640M +
1.4 Points (34%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 3529     avg: 3578     median: 3600 (22%)     max: 3605 Points
4928 Points (30%)
min: 4009     avg: 4383     median: 4443 (27%)     max: 4506 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 7046     avg: 7069     median: 7074 (5%)     max: 7086 Points
18300 Points (13%)
min: 9691     avg: 9766     median: 9778 (7%)     max: 9833 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 8430     avg: 8639     median: 8722 (6%)     max: 8765 Points
22311 Points (15%)
min: 11067     avg: 11767     median: 11874 (8%)     max: 12037 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 4464     avg: 4469     median: 4471 (5%)     max: 4472 Points
6184 Points (8%)
min: 5445     avg: 5549     median: 5534 (7%)     max: 5665 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 2637M +
min: 691     avg: 744     median: 765 (9%)     max: 776 s
104%
1 2640M +
min: 478.5     avg: 493.6     median: 489 (6%)     max: 524 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 2637M +
min: 20.3     avg: 21.2     median: 21.7 (4%)     max: 21.7 s
101%
1 2640M +
min: 15     avg: 15.5     median: 15.1 (3%)     max: 16.61 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 2637M +
min: 2286     avg: 2325     median: 2324.5 (4%)     max: 2363 Points
113%
1 2640M +
min: 2555     avg: 2632     median: 2620 (4%)     max: 2733 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 2637M +
min: 11.95     avg: 12.1     median: 12.1 (4%)     max: 12.23 fps
140%
1 2640M +
min: 16.38     avg: 16.9     median: 17 (6%)     max: 17.21 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 2637M +
min: 68.5     avg: 70.1     median: 69.5 (16%)     max: 72.2 fps
128%
1 2640M +
min: 88.7     avg: 91     median: 89.3 (21%)     max: 95 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 2637M +
min: 0.112     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (0%)     max: 0.116 GB/s
131%
1 2640M +
min: 0.124     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (0%)     max: 0.152 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 2637M +
min: 0.196     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (3%)     max: 0.2 GB/s
133%
1 2640M +
min: 0.198     avg: 0.2     median: 0.3 (5%)     max: 0.27 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 2637M +
1.2 GB/s (3%)
133%
1 2640M +
1.6 GB/s (4%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 2814     avg: 2836     median: 2834 (6%)     max: 2860 Points
6820 Points (15%)
min: 3882     avg: 3934     median: 3927 (8%)     max: 3978 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 13.7     avg: 14     median: 14 (3%)     max: 14.32 s
10 s (2%)
min: 11     avg: 11.2     median: 11 (2%)     max: 11.66 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 31.9     avg: 32.3     median: 32 (1%)     max: 33.02 s
22 s (1%)
min: 25     avg: 26     median: 26 (1%)     max: 27.04 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 735     avg: 755     median: 758 (3%)     max: 772 s
568 s (3%)
min: 604     avg: 626     median: 634 (3%)     max: 639 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
45450 MIPS (22%)
120900 MIPS (57%)
min: 64300     avg: 64523     median: 64545 (31%)     max: 64700 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
29870 MFLOPS (23%)
80500 MFLOPS (62%)
min: 39000     avg: 39255     median: 39135 (30%)     max: 39750 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
6.9 Points (88%)
7.6 Points (97%)
min: 7     avg: 7.2     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.6 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 7546     avg: 7733     median: 7552 (7%)     max: 8101 Points
23249 Points (20%)
min: 10127     avg: 10509     median: 10559 (9%)     max: 10838 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
3258 Points (9%)
8098 Points (22%)
min: 3902     avg: 4140     median: 4172 (11%)     max: 4320 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 2637M +
27910 Points (23%)
95%
1 2640M +
26569 Points (22%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
100%
1 2637M +
29096 Points (25%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 2637M +
2382 Points (6%)
121%
1 2640M +
2876 Points (7%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 2637M +
3294 Points (6%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 2637M +
2769 Points (28%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 2637M +
5048 Points (6%)
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 2637M +
2703 Points (37%)
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 2637M +
4800 Points (12%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 2637M +
4566 Points (8%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 2637M +
2288 Points (45%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 2640M +
7873 Points (64%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 2640M +
6847 Points (62%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 2640M +
7293 Points (14%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 2640M +
6298 Points (13%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 2640M +
6913 Points (18%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
100%
1 2637M +
16640 Points (15%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 2637M +
29.1 Watt (5%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 2637M +
30.5 Watt (6%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2637M → 100% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2960XM → 201% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2640M → 125% 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
log 28. 13:27:28

#0 checking url part for id 2736 +0s ... 0s

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

#2 checking url part for id 2839 +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 +0.035s ... 0.036s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.036s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 2736 +0.003s ... 0.039s

#8 got single benchmarks 2736 +0.033s ... 0.072s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 2846 +0.003s ... 0.075s

#10 got single benchmarks 2846 +0.009s ... 0.084s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 2839 +0.003s ... 0.087s

#12 got single benchmarks 2839 +0.03s ... 0.117s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.117s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.242s ... 0.359s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.359s

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)