Notebookcheck Logo

Intel Core i7-2920XM vs Intel Core i7-2635QM vs Intel Core i7-2670QM

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 i7-2635QM

► remove from comparison Intel 2635QM

The Intel Core i7-2635QM 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 i7-2635QM is now manufactured in 32nm and offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the faster Core i7, the 2635QM does not support Trusted Execution functions and VT-d (VT-x Virtualization only).

Compared to the Core i7-2630QM, the 2635QM offers a slightly higher Turbo Boost frequency for the GPU (1200MHz versus 1100MHz) and is offered in the BGA Package (2630QM rPGA).

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 i7-2635QM 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 2635QM it is clocked from 650-1200MHz (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 i7-2635QM should be about 10-15% faster than a similar clocked Clarksfield Core i7 (see first tests by Anandtech). Therefore, the 2635QM should be on a level (or even faster) than a Core i7-920XM Quad-Core.

Intel Core i7-2670QM

► remove from comparison Intel 2670QM

The Intel Core i7-2670QM is a fast quad core processor for laptops and successor to the popular i7-2630QM. 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 2630QM, the 2670QM offers higher base and turbo frequencies by 200MHz. Compared to the faster Core i7, the 2670QM 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 2670QM it is clocked from  650-1100MHz (Turbo Boost). The Core i7-2675QM in comparison offers a higher Turbo Boost frequency of 1200MHz for the GPU part.

Furthermore, an improved (compared to Clarkdale) 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 i7-2670QM should be only slightly slower than the old Core i7-2720QM that offers only a slightly higher Turbo Boost frequencies. Therefore, even demanding applications and games should run without performance problems.

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).

ModelIntel Core i7-2920XMIntel Core i7-2635QMIntel Core i7-2670QM
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 i7-2635QM « 2 - 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 i7-2670QM « 2.2 - 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
Clock2500 - 3500 MHz2000 - 2900 MHz2200 - 3100 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB256 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB1 MB
L3 Cache8 MB6 MB6 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 84 / 8
TDP55 Watt45 Watt45 Watt
Transistors995 Million995 Million995 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size216 mm2216 mm2216 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketFCPGA988FCBGA1224
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333/1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000 (650-1200MHz), DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000, DDR-1333 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization (VT-x)
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1200 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1100 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$1096 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 5.7     avg: 6     median: 6 (8%)     max: 6.2 Points
min: 4.6     avg: 4.7     median: 4.7 (6%)     max: 4.68 Points
min: 4.85     avg: 5.1     median: 5.2 (7%)     max: 5.34 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 4282     avg: 4387     median: 4378.5 (26%)     max: 4507 Points
min: 3677     avg: 3697     median: 3699 (22%)     max: 3699 Points
min: 3685     avg: 3879     median: 3899.5 (24%)     max: 3998 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 16067     avg: 16949     median: 17187.5 (12%)     max: 17355 Points
min: 13045     avg: 13521     median: 13581 (10%)     max: 13581 Points
min: 14121     avg: 14804     median: 14842.5 (11%)     max: 15164 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 19727     avg: 20763     median: 20959 (15%)     max: 21407 Points
15522 Points (11%)
min: 17228     avg: 17967     median: 18076 (13%)     max: 18345 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 5343     avg: 5525     median: 5565 (7%)     max: 5628 Points
4583 Points (6%)
min: 4628     avg: 4823     median: 4848 (6%)     max: 4960 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 264.9     avg: 276.9     median: 273.8 (3%)     max: 295 s
486 s (6%)
min: 303     avg: 321.9     median: 328.1 (4%)     max: 334.6 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 8.29     avg: 8.5     median: 8.4 (2%)     max: 8.9 s
15 s (3%)
min: 9.5     avg: 10.4     median: 10.6 (2%)     max: 10.98 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 3296     avg: 3923     median: 3923 (6%)     max: 4550 Points
106%
1 2670QM +
min: 4037     avg: 4149     median: 4140 (7%)     max: 4270 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
86%
1 2670QM +
min: 26.32     avg: 26.6     median: 26.5 (9%)     max: 26.93 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
88%
1 2670QM +
min: 71.7     avg: 100.8     median: 115.1 (27%)     max: 115.6 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 0.293     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (0%)     max: 0.296 GB/s
86%
1 2670QM +
min: 0.25     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (0%)     max: 0.258 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 0.508     avg: 0.5     median: 0.5 (9%)     max: 0.521 GB/s
87%
1 2670QM +
min: 0.443     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (8%)     max: 0.453 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 2.8     avg: 3     median: 3 (8%)     max: 3.1 GB/s
92%
1 2670QM +
min: 2.5     avg: 2.6     median: 2.7 (7%)     max: 2.7 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 5944     avg: 6100     median: 6131 (13%)     max: 6206 Points
4906 Points (10%)
min: 4617     avg: 5333     median: 5400.5 (11%)     max: 5464 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 10     avg: 10.5     median: 10 (2%)     max: 11.7 s
14 s (3%)
12 s (3%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 24     avg: 24.6     median: 24 (1%)     max: 25.9 s
31 s (1%)
min: 27     avg: 28.1     median: 28 (1%)     max: 29 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 580     avg: 600     median: 594 (3%)     max: 620 s
719 s (3%)
min: 665     avg: 677     median: 675 (3%)     max: 693 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 118300     avg: 121717     median: 121780 (58%)     max: 125070 MIPS
83%
1 2670QM +
min: 89820     avg: 99008     median: 100470 (48%)     max: 103490 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 2920XM +
min: 71200     avg: 74190     median: 75680 (58%)     max: 75690 MFLOPS
87%
1 2670QM +
min: 65680     avg: 66132     median: 66000 (51%)     max: 66630 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
min: 7.5     avg: 7.6     median: 7.6 (97%)     max: 7.6 Points
7.4 Points (95%)
7.5 Points (96%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 20540     avg: 21107     median: 21148 (19%)     max: 21592 Points
16710 Points (15%)
min: 16224     avg: 18129     median: 18363 (16%)     max: 18863 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 7804     avg: 7915     median: 7914.5 (21%)     max: 8025 Points
5658 Points (15%)
min: 6064     avg: 6437     median: 6490 (18%)     max: 6712 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2920XM → 100% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2635QM → 87% n=14

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2670QM → 92% 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 29. 15:24:07

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

#1 checking url part for id 1575 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 2850 +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 +0.042s ... 0.043s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.043s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 1503 +0.003s ... 0.046s

#8 got single benchmarks 1503 +0.027s ... 0.073s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 1575 +0.003s ... 0.076s

#10 got single benchmarks 1575 +0.01s ... 0.086s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 2850 +0.003s ... 0.089s

#12 got single benchmarks 2850 +0.079s ... 0.168s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.168s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.168s ... 0.336s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.336s

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)