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Intel Core i7-2720QM vs Intel Core i7-2620M vs Intel Core i7-2760QM

Intel Core i7-2720QM

► remove from comparison Intel 2720QM

The Intel Core i7-2720QM is a fast high-end 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 i7-2720QM is now manufactured in 32nm and offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the faster clocked 2820QM, the 2720QM offers less level 3 cache (6 vs. 8MB).

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 i7-2720QM 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.

The performance of the Core i7-2720QM is noticeable better than the old i7-720QM and even a bit faster than the fastest Clarksfield CPU the Core i7-940XM quad core. Therefore, the performance should be sufficient for modern 3D games and demanding applications. Thanks to the fast Turbo Boost 2.0 even single threaded applications run very fast. The detailed benchmark results of the 2720QM can be found in the lower section of this page, or in our detailed review of the new Sandy Bridge quad core processors.

The relative high TDP rating of the 2720QM of 45 Watt enables the usage of the quad core only in 15" laptops and up. However, compared to the previous generation of quad-cores, the TDP improved, as the integrated GPU is now included.

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 i7-2760QM

► remove from comparison Intel 2760QM

The Intel Core i7-2760QM is a fast high-end quad core processor for laptops and successor of the slower clocked Core i7-2720QM. 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 i7-2760QM is now manufactured in 32nm and offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the 2820QM, the 2760QM offers less level 3 cache (6 vs. 8MB) but should make this up due to the higher clock speed.

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 i7-2760QM 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 i7-2720QM (should be similar to the 2760QM). As the graphics card shares the fast last level cache, the processor is a bit slower with activated GPU.

The performance of the Core i7-2760QM is only slightly below the Core i7-2920XM (see benchmarks below). Therefore, the performance should be sufficient for modern 3D games and demanding applications. Thanks to the fast Turbo Boost 2.0 even single threaded applications run very fast.

The relative high TDP rating of the 2760QM of 45 Watt enables the usage of the quad core only in 15" laptops and up. However, compared to the previous generation of quad-cores, the TDP improved, as the integrated GPU is now included.

ModelIntel Core i7-2720QMIntel Core i7-2620MIntel Core i7-2760QM
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 i7-2720QM « 2.2 - 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 i7-2640M2.8 - 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 i7-2960XM2.7 - 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 i7-2760QM « 2.4 - 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
Clock2200 - 3300 MHz2700 - 3400 MHz2400 - 3500 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB256 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB1 MB
L3 Cache6 MB4 MB6 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 44 / 8
TDP45 Watt35 Watt45 Watt
Transistors995 Million624 Million995 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size216 mm2149 mm2216 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketFCBGA1224, FCPGA988rPGA988B, BGA1023FCBGA1224, FCPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD 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 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$378 U.S.$346 U.S.$378 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 5.12     avg: 5.3     median: 5.3 (7%)     max: 5.64 Points
min: 2.6     avg: 3     median: 3.1 (4%)     max: 3.11 Points
min: 5.49     avg: 5.6     median: 5.6 (7%)     max: 5.66 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 4114     avg: 4168     median: 4167 (25%)     max: 4219 Points
min: 3532     avg: 4200     median: 4333 (26%)     max: 4384 Points
min: 4451     avg: 4475     median: 4474 (27%)     max: 4499 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 13961     avg: 14649     median: 14852 (11%)     max: 15301 Points
min: 7650     avg: 9124     median: 9433 (7%)     max: 9632 Points
min: 14760     avg: 15869     median: 16211 (12%)     max: 16293 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 15819     avg: 17946     median: 18193 (13%)     max: 19061 Points
min: 9634     avg: 11273     median: 11444 (8%)     max: 11711 Points
min: 18048     avg: 19417     median: 19747 (14%)     max: 20126 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 4204     avg: 5084     median: 5236 (6%)     max: 5299 Points
min: 4462     avg: 5325     median: 5412 (7%)     max: 5479 Points
min: 5471     avg: 5509     median: 5471.5 (7%)     max: 5623 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 410.2     avg: 423.1     median: 423.5 (5%)     max: 435.6 s
min: 494     avg: 525     median: 505 (6%)     max: 594 s
294.3 s (3%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 12.13     avg: 13     median: 13.1 (3%)     max: 13.73 s
min: 11.56     avg: 16.3     median: 16.2 (3%)     max: 19.4 s
8.2 s (2%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 2760QM +
4325 Points (7%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 2760QM +
28 fps (10%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 2760QM +
120.4 fps (28%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 2760QM +
0.3 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 2760QM +
0.5 GB/s (8%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 2760QM +
3 GB/s (8%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 5133     avg: 5529     median: 5616 (12%)     max: 5772 Points
min: 3039     avg: 3753     median: 3827 (8%)     max: 3884 Points
min: 5677     avg: 5930     median: 6000.5 (13%)     max: 6042 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 11     avg: 11.4     median: 11 (2%)     max: 12.3 s
min: 11     avg: 11.5     median: 11 (2%)     max: 14.3 s
min: 11     avg: 11     median: 11 (2%)     max: 11.1 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 26     avg: 27     median: 27 (1%)     max: 28.2 s
min: 26     avg: 27.3     median: 27 (1%)     max: 32.9 s
min: 25     avg: 25.3     median: 25 (1%)     max: 26 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 635     avg: 650     median: 647 (3%)     max: 671 s
min: 620     avg: 685     median: 640 (3%)     max: 1098 s
min: 604     avg: 610     median: 604 (3%)     max: 621 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
109640 MIPS (52%)
min: 53030     avg: 55805     median: 53870 (26%)     max: 62450 MIPS
107700 MIPS (51%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
66400 MFLOPS (51%)
min: 37790     avg: 37923     median: 37950 (29%)     max: 38000 MFLOPS
72380 MFLOPS (56%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
7.5 Points (96%)
min: 6.9     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
7.5 Points (96%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 11457     avg: 17984     median: 18725 (16%)     max: 19716 Points
min: 8605     avg: 11161     median: 10271 (9%)     max: 21984 Points
min: 16044     avg: 19256     median: 20451 (18%)     max: 20494 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 5473     avg: 6495     median: 6627 (18%)     max: 7334 Points
min: 3296     avg: 3947     median: 4060 (11%)     max: 4362 Points
min: 6050     avg: 6810     median: 7061.5 (19%)     max: 7068 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 2720QM +
36234 Points (29%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 2720QM +
5494 Points (14%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 2720QM +
7558 Points (13%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2720QM → 100% n=16

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2620M → 80% n=16

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2760QM → 104% n=16

- 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. 12:06:41

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#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

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#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 1499 +0.003s ... 0.042s

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#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.199s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.228s ... 0.427s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.427s

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