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Intel Core i7-2920XM vs Intel Core i7-2630QM vs Intel Core i7-2649M

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.

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 i7-2649M

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i7-2649M is power efficient LV (Low Voltage) processor for laptops. The base frequency of 2.3 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 3.2 GHz (one core loaded, 2.9 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i7-2649M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the similar called Core i7-2620M, the 2649M 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 i3-390M if the Turbo can be used often.

The TDP of 25W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2649M CPU in thin notebooks.

ModelIntel Core i7-2920XMIntel Core i7-2630QMIntel Core i7-2649M
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 i7-2920XM « 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
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 i7-2960XM2.7 - 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 i7-2649M « 2.3 - 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
Clock2500 - 3500 MHz2000 - 2900 MHz2300 - 3200 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache8 MB6 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 82 / 4
TDP55 Watt45 Watt25 Watt
Transistors995 Million995 Million624 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size216 mm2216 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketFCPGA988FCPGA988BGA1023
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333/1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000 (650-1100MHz), DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization (VT-x)HD Graphics 3000 500-1100MHz, integrated DDR3-1333 memory controller, Virtualization, Trusted Execution, Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost 2.0
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1100 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (500 - 1100 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$1096 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 5.7     avg: 6     median: 6 (8%)     max: 6.2 Points
80%
1 2630QM +
min: 3.89     avg: 4.7     median: 4.8 (6%)     max: 5.04 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 4282     avg: 4387     median: 4378.5 (26%)     max: 4507 Points
84%
1 2630QM +
min: 3449     avg: 3653     median: 3662 (22%)     max: 3772 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 16067     avg: 16949     median: 17187.5 (12%)     max: 17355 Points
80%
1 2630QM +
min: 11111     avg: 13692     median: 13833 (10%)     max: 14394 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 19727     avg: 20763     median: 20959 (15%)     max: 21407 Points
80%
1 2630QM +
min: 13512     avg: 16643     median: 16803 (12%)     max: 17347 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 5343     avg: 5525     median: 5565 (7%)     max: 5628 Points
82%
1 2630QM +
min: 4325     avg: 4558     median: 4569 (6%)     max: 4679 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 264.9     avg: 276.9     median: 273.8 (3%)     max: 295 s
99%
1 2630QM +
min: 313.2     avg: 331.9     median: 325.6 (4%)     max: 435 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 8.29     avg: 8.5     median: 8.4 (2%)     max: 8.9 s
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 9.7     avg: 10.3     median: 10.1 (2%)     max: 12.5 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
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 5944     avg: 6100     median: 6131 (13%)     max: 6206 Points
82%
1 2630QM +
min: 4050     avg: 4912     median: 5039 (11%)     max: 5127 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 10     avg: 10.5     median: 10 (2%)     max: 11.7 s
99%
1 2630QM +
min: 13     avg: 13.2     median: 13 (3%)     max: 14.2 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 24     avg: 24.6     median: 24 (1%)     max: 25.9 s
100%
1 2630QM +
min: 29     avg: 30.4     median: 30.2 (1%)     max: 32 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 580     avg: 600     median: 594 (3%)     max: 620 s
99%
1 2630QM +
min: 713     avg: 730     median: 728.5 (3%)     max: 778 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 118300     avg: 121717     median: 121780 (58%)     max: 125070 MIPS
81%
1 2630QM +
98320 MIPS (47%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 71200     avg: 74190     median: 75680 (58%)     max: 75690 MFLOPS
80%
1 2630QM +
min: 59250     avg: 60255     median: 60255 (46%)     max: 61260 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
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 7.5     avg: 7.6     median: 7.6 (97%)     max: 7.6 Points
97%
1 2630QM +
min: 7.4     avg: 7.4     median: 7.4 (95%)     max: 7.5 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 20540     avg: 21107     median: 21148 (19%)     max: 21592 Points
82%
1 2630QM +
min: 12879     avg: 16949     median: 17369 (15%)     max: 25328 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 7804     avg: 7915     median: 7914.5 (21%)     max: 8025 Points
75%
1 2630QM +
min: 4628     avg: 5796     median: 5933.5 (16%)     max: 6358 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 i7-2920XM → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2630QM → 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. 15:45:06

#0 checking url part for id 1503 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 1517 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 1581 +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 +0.036s ... 0.037s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.037s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 1503 +0.003s ... 0.04s

#8 got single benchmarks 1503 +0.026s ... 0.066s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 1517 +0.004s ... 0.07s

#10 got single benchmarks 1517 +0.198s ... 0.268s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 1581 +0.003s ... 0.271s

#12 got single benchmarks 1581 +0s ... 0.271s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.271s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.128s ... 0.399s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.399s

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