Notebookcheck Logo

Intel Core i7-3687U vs Intel Core i7-3920XM vs Intel Core i7-3540M

Intel Core i7-3687U

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i7-3687U is the fastest ULV-processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture at the time of introduction in Q1 2013. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 2.1 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.3 GHz (for 1 active core). As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessors, it offers a 4 MB L3-Cache.

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 i7-3687U is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. Therefore, and because of the higher clock speed, the old Core i7-2677M is easily outperformed.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 350 MHz up to 1200 MHz with Turbo Boost, delivering a performance comparable with an AMD Radeon HD 6620G.

The ULV-CPUs are rated at a TDP of 17 W including graphics card and memory controller.  Therefore, the CPU is suited for small laptops and ultrabooks.

Intel Core i7-3920XM

► remove from comparison Intel 3920XM

The Intel Core i7-3920XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture at the time of introduction in April 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 2.9 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz (for 4 active cores), 3.7 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.8 GHz (for 1 active core). Furthermore, the Extreme CPUs offer an unlocked multiplicator for easy overclocking.

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 i7-3920XM is slightly (~5 %) above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to slight architectural improvements. Therefore, and because of the higher clock speed, the former champion Core i7-2960XM is easily outperformed by 10 to 15%.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1300 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it the fastest variant.

The XM CPUs are rated at a TDP of 55 Watts including graphics card and memory controller and therefore 10 Watt higher than the other quad-core models.  Therefore, the CPU is well-suited for laptops 17-inches or greater.

Intel Core i7-3540M

► remove from comparison Intel 3540M

The Intel Core i7-3540M is the fastest dual-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture at the time of introduction in Q1 2013. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 3.0 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.7 GHz (for 1 active core). As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessor Core i7-2640M, it offers a 4 MB L3-Cache.

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 i7-3540M is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is about 5 - 10 % above the old i7-2640M.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1300 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it one of the fastest variants.

Just like most other Ivy Bridge dual-cores, the i7-3540M is rated at a TDP of 35 W. Therefore, even smaller laptops can use the Core i7.

ModelIntel Core i7-3687UIntel Core i7-3920XMIntel Core i7-3540M
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameIvy BridgeIvy BridgeIvy Bridge
Series: Core i7 Ivy Bridge
Intel Core i7-3940XM3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U « 2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3940XM3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM « 2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3940XM3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M « 3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2100 - 3300 MHz2900 - 3800 MHz3000 - 3700 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
Technology22 nm22 nm22 nm
max. Temp.105 °C105 °C105 °C
SocketBGA1023FCPGA988BGA1023, PGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000 (350-1200 MHz), Turbo 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 4000, DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz), DDR3-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (350 - 1200 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com
Transistors1400 Million
Die Size160 mm2
$1096 U.S.

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 6.89     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (9%)     max: 7.22 Points
49%
1 3540M +
min: 3.41     avg: 3.5     median: 3.5 (4%)     max: 3.49 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 1.53     avg: 1.6     median: 1.6 (39%)     max: 1.58 Points
98%
1 3540M +
min: 1.52     avg: 1.5     median: 1.5 (38%)     max: 1.54 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 5045     avg: 5078     median: 5078 (31%)     max: 5111 Points
99%
1 3540M +
min: 5018     avg: 5030     median: 5029.5 (30%)     max: 5041 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 19595     avg: 19653     median: 19652.5 (14%)     max: 19710 Points
55%
1 3540M +
min: 10628     avg: 10811     median: 10810.5 (8%)     max: 10993 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 19756     avg: 23050     median: 24647 (17%)     max: 24748 Points
55%
1 3540M +
min: 13307     avg: 13435     median: 13434.5 (9%)     max: 13562 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 5132     avg: 6011     median: 6416 (8%)     max: 6484 Points
100%
1 3540M +
min: 6326     avg: 6414     median: 6414 (8%)     max: 6502 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 220.9     avg: 241.8     median: 241.8 (3%)     max: 262.7 s
97%
1 3540M +
471.2 s (6%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 7.412     avg: 7.5     median: 7.5 (2%)     max: 7.539 s
98%
1 3540M +
14.9 s (3%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 3920XM +
4570 Points (7%)
64%
1 3540M +
2940 Points (5%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 37.1     avg: 38     median: 38 (13%)     max: 38.9 fps
52%
1 3540M +
19.9 fps (7%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 156.4     avg: 156.7     median: 156.7 (36%)     max: 157 fps
67%
1 3540M +
105.3 fps (24%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 0.366     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.373 GB/s
49%
1 3540M +
0.2 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 0.562     avg: 0.6     median: 0.6 (10%)     max: 0.633 GB/s
52%
1 3540M +
0.3 GB/s (5%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 3.5     avg: 3.6     median: 3.6 (9%)     max: 3.6 GB/s
48%
1 3540M +
1.7 GB/s (4%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 6793     avg: 6935     median: 6973 (15%)     max: 7039 Points
62%
1 3540M +
min: 4267     avg: 4320     median: 4319.5 (9%)     max: 4372 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 9     avg: 9.4     median: 9 (2%)     max: 10.11 s
100%
1 3540M +
10.4 s (2%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 22     avg: 22.3     median: 22 (1%)     max: 22.98 s
100%
1 3540M +
23.9 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 531     avg: 534     median: 534 (2%)     max: 537 s
100%
1 3540M +
557 s (2%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 115400     avg: 129935     median: 129935 (62%)     max: 144470 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 83580     avg: 85345     median: 85345 (65%)     max: 87110 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 3920XM +
7.7 Points (99%)
95%
1 3540M +
7.3 Points (94%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 3920XM +
min: 24085     avg: 24928     median: 25094 (22%)     max: 25605 Points
47%
1 3540M +
11749 Points (10%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
9329 Points (25%)
100%
1 3540M +
min: 4391     avg: 4627     median: 4627 (13%)     max: 4863 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 3540M +
min: 40631     avg: 42023     median: 42022.5 (34%)     max: 43414 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 3540M +
min: 3424     avg: 3483     median: 3482.5 (9%)     max: 3541 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 3540M +
min: 4929     avg: 4966     median: 4966 (9%)     max: 5003 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3920XM → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3540M → 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. 13:08:18

#0 checking url part for id 3630 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 3062 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 3628 +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 +0.033s ... 0.034s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.034s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 3630 +0.002s ... 0.037s

#8 got single benchmarks 3630 +0s ... 0.037s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 3062 +0.003s ... 0.04s

#10 got single benchmarks 3062 +0.023s ... 0.063s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 3628 +0.003s ... 0.066s

#12 got single benchmarks 3628 +0.013s ... 0.079s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.079s

#14 No cached benchmark found, getting uncached values +0.133s ... 0.212s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.02s ... 0.232s

#16 return log +0s ... 0.232s

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)