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Intel Core i7-3632QM vs Intel Core i7-2617M

Intel Core i7-3632QM

► remove from comparison Intel 3632QM

The Intel Core i7-3632QM is a fast quad-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture and successor of the i7-3612QM. It is the fastest mobile processor rated at 35 Watt (at the time of announcement in Q3 2012). Due to Hyperthreading, the four cores can handle up to eight threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 2.2 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz (for 4 active cores), 3.1 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.2 GHz (for 1 active core). Compared to other quad core CPUs, the 3632QM is specified at a TDP of only 35 Watt (similar to the dual-core CPUs). The BGA version (that is directly soldered to the mainboard) supports VT-d virtualization, whereas the rPGA version does not. Both don't support vPro and Trusted Execution, but otherwise all Ivy Bridge features like AES or VT-x are useable.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i7-3632QM is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is slightly above the Sandy Bridge Core i7-2820QM. Altough the 3632QM has a higher model number than the 3630QM, it offers slower clock rates and therefore performs worse. However, the 3630QM is specified at a much higher TDP of 45 Watt.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) and is clocked at 650 MHz (base) up to 1150 MHz (Turbo Boost).

With a TDP of only 35 Watt, the Core i7-3632QM is specified at the level of the dual-core mobile CPUs. Therefore, even smaller laptops can use the Core i7.

Intel Core i7-2617M

► remove from comparison Intel 2617M

The Intel Core i7-2617M is power efficient ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor for thin and light laptops. The base frequency of 1.5 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 2.6 GHz (on core loaded, 2.3 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i7-2617M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the slower i5-2537M, the 2617M offers a higher clock speed (processor core and turbo, graphics turbo) and more last level cache.

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 350 or 950MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower clock rate, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650-1100/1300MHz 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. Therefore, the performance should be similar to a Core i3-350M if the Turbo can be used often.

The TDP of 17W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2617M CPU in small subnotebooks.

ModelIntel Core i7-3632QMIntel Core i7-2617M
CodenameIvy BridgeSandy Bridge
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7
Series: Core i7 Sandy Bridge
Intel Core i7-3940XM compare3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM compare2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM compare2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM compare2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM compare2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM compare2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM compare2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM compare2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM « 2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM compare2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M compare3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M compare2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U compare2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U compare2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U compare2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U compare1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y compare1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2960XM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2860QM compare2.5 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2920XM compare2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2760QM compare2.4 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2820QM compare2.3 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2720QM compare2.2 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2675QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2670QM compare2.2 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2635QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2630QM compare2 - 2.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2640M compare2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2620M compare2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2649M compare2.3 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2629M compare2.1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2677M compare1.8 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2637M compare1.7 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2657M compare1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-2617M « 1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2200 - 3200 MHz1500 - 2600 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache6 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 4
TDP35 Watt17 Watt
Transistors1400 Million624 Million
Technology22 nm32 nm
Die Size160 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C100 °C
SocketFCBGA1224, FCPGA988BGA1023
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000, DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1150 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (350 - 950 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
$100 U.S.

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 519     avg: 521     median: 521 (3%)     max: 523 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 111     avg: 112.3     median: 113 (31%)     max: 113 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 5.13     avg: 5.7     median: 5.8 (8%)     max: 5.84 Points
2.1 Points (3%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 1.29     avg: 1.3     median: 1.3 (31%)     max: 1.34 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 4261     avg: 4287     median: 4293.5 (26%)     max: 4299 Points
3315 Points (20%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 15952     avg: 16139     median: 16117 (12%)     max: 16368 Points
6690 Points (5%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 18906     avg: 19646     median: 19793.5 (13%)     max: 20126 Points
8113 Points (5%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 5296     avg: 5394     median: 5419.5 (7%)     max: 5456 Points
4143 Points (5%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 271.5     avg: 321.9     median: 295 (3%)     max: 426.1 s
783 s (9%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 8.784     avg: 10.5     median: 9.9 (2%)     max: 13.53 s
24.1 s (5%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 4045     avg: 4069     median: 4069 (6%)     max: 4093 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 27.5     avg: 30.9     median: 31.9 (1%)     max: 32.22 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 123.3     avg: 125.5     median: 125.4 (3%)     max: 127.7 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 0.236     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (9%)     max: 0.302 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 0.346     avg: 0.5     median: 0.5 (9%)     max: 0.514 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 1.8     avg: 2.6     median: 2.9 (8%)     max: 2.9 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 5514     avg: 5702     median: 5681 (12%)     max: 5947 Points
2762 Points (6%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 11     avg: 11.9     median: 11.9 (3%)     max: 13 s
15.3 s (3%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 26     avg: 27.1     median: 27.2 (1%)     max: 28 s
34.8 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 623     avg: 636     median: 635 (3%)     max: 649 s
817 s (4%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 3632QM +
99750 MIPS (47%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 3632QM +
68510 MFLOPS (53%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 3632QM +
7.5 Points (96%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 16654     avg: 19072     median: 20095 (15%)     max: 20467 Points
7233 Points (6%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 5976     avg: 6528     median: 6410 (16%)     max: 7327 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 26398     avg: 32228     median: 32530 (26%)     max: 37454 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
100%
1 3632QM +
26458 Points (21%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 4887     avg: 5110     median: 4981 (13%)     max: 5591 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 3632QM +
min: 7073     avg: 7328     median: 7174 (13%)     max: 7737 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 3632QM +
10241 Points (18%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 3632QM +
2748 Points (36%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 3632QM +
7341 Points (39%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 3632QM +
6764 Points (47%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 3632QM +
10911 Points (21%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 3632QM +
9690 Points (20%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 3632QM +
9297 Points (24%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3632QM → 100% n=12

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-2617M → 56% n=12

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
red legend - Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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v1.34
log 20. 05:40:21

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 3366 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 1578 +0s ... 0s

#3 redirected to Ajax server, took 1760931621s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Sun, 19 Oct 2025 05:20:51 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#5 composed specs +0.006s ... 0.006s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.006s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 3366 +0.001s ... 0.007s

#8 got single benchmarks 3366 +0.011s ... 0.018s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 1578 +0.001s ... 0.018s

#10 got single benchmarks 1578 +0.004s ... 0.022s

#11 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.022s

#12 min, max, avg, median took s +0.019s ... 0.041s

#13 return log +0.003s ... 0.044s

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> 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)