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Intel Core i7-3920XM vs Intel Core i7-3517U vs Intel Core i7-3720QM

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 i7-3517U

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i7-3517U is a fast ULV-processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture released in Q2 2012. 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 1.9 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.0 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 i7-3517U is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. Therefore, and because of the higher clock speed, the older Core i7-2677M is easily outperformed.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 350 MHz up to 1150 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 i7-3720QM

► remove from comparison Intel 3720QM

The Intel Core i7-3720QM is a fast high-end quad-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture. 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 2.6 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz (for 4 active cores), 3.5 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.6 GHz (for 1 active core).

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 i7-3720QM is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to slight architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is higher than the former fastest model, the Core i7-2920XM.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1250 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it one of the faster variants.

As with most quad-core Ivy Bridge models, the Core i7-3720QM is specified at a TDP of 45 Watts including graphics card and memory controller. Therefore, the CPU is well-suited for laptops 15-inches or greater.

ModelIntel Core i7-3920XMIntel Core i7-3517UIntel Core i7-3720QM
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 i7-3920XM « 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 i7-3540M3 - 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 i7-3517U « 1.9 - 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 i7-3720QM « 2.6 - 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
Clock2900 - 3800 MHz1900 - 3000 MHz2600 - 3600 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB256 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB1 MB
L3 Cache8 MB4 MB6 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 44 / 8
TDP55 Watt17 Watt45 Watt
Transistors1400 Million1400 Million
Technology22 nm22 nm22 nm
Die Size160 mm2160 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C105 °C
SocketFCPGA988FCBGA1224, FCPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000, DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationTurbo 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 (650-1250MHz), DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (350 - 1150 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1250 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$1096 U.S.$378 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 3720QM +
610 Points (4%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 3720QM +
126 Points (38%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 6.89     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (9%)     max: 7.22 Points
min: 2.51     avg: 2.7     median: 2.8 (4%)     max: 2.82 Points
min: 5.96     avg: 6.6     median: 6.7 (9%)     max: 6.85 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.53     avg: 1.6     median: 1.6 (39%)     max: 1.58 Points
min: 1.14     avg: 1.2     median: 1.2 (30%)     max: 1.25 Points
min: 1.39     avg: 1.5     median: 1.5 (37%)     max: 1.5 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 5045     avg: 5078     median: 5078 (31%)     max: 5111 Points
min: 3860     avg: 4041     median: 4024.5 (24%)     max: 4170 Points
min: 4749     avg: 4827     median: 4821 (29%)     max: 4916 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 19595     avg: 19653     median: 19652.5 (14%)     max: 19710 Points
min: 8015     avg: 8524     median: 8596.5 (6%)     max: 8704 Points
min: 14659     avg: 18498     median: 18879 (14%)     max: 19231 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 19756     avg: 23050     median: 24647 (17%)     max: 24748 Points
min: 9842     avg: 10589     median: 10674 (7%)     max: 10904 Points
min: 21405     avg: 23108     median: 23211 (16%)     max: 23615 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 5132     avg: 6011     median: 6416 (8%)     max: 6484 Points
min: 5932     avg: 6091     median: 6097 (7%)     max: 6204 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 220.9     avg: 241.8     median: 241.8 (3%)     max: 262.7 s
min: 226.9     avg: 238.9     median: 235.2 (3%)     max: 258.4 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 7.412     avg: 7.5     median: 7.5 (2%)     max: 7.539 s
min: 7.64     avg: 7.8     median: 7.9 (2%)     max: 7.941 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
4570 Points (7%)
min: 2376     avg: 2631     median: 2465 (4%)     max: 3682 Points
min: 3125     avg: 4249     median: 4365 (7%)     max: 4613 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 37.1     avg: 38     median: 38 (13%)     max: 38.9 fps
min: 14.38     avg: 15.6     median: 15.9 (6%)     max: 16 fps
min: 29.85     avg: 35.7     median: 37 (13%)     max: 37.67 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 156.4     avg: 156.7     median: 156.7 (36%)     max: 157 fps
min: 82.3     avg: 83.3     median: 83 (19%)     max: 85 fps
min: 127.3     avg: 144.1     median: 146.7 (34%)     max: 150.1 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
min: 0.366     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.373 GB/s
min: 0.144     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (0%)     max: 0.15 GB/s
min: 0.27     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.513 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
min: 0.562     avg: 0.6     median: 0.6 (10%)     max: 0.633 GB/s
min: 0.245     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (4%)     max: 0.25 GB/s
min: 0.39     avg: 0.6     median: 0.6 (10%)     max: 0.606 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
min: 3.5     avg: 3.6     median: 3.6 (9%)     max: 3.6 GB/s
min: 0.274     avg: 1.2     median: 1.4 (4%)     max: 1.4 GB/s
min: 1.8     avg: 3.1     median: 3.3 (9%)     max: 3.4 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 6793     avg: 6935     median: 6973 (15%)     max: 7039 Points
min: 2949     avg: 3382     median: 3430 (7%)     max: 3570 Points
min: 5981     avg: 6581     median: 6642 (14%)     max: 6696 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 9     avg: 9.4     median: 9 (2%)     max: 10.11 s
min: 10     avg: 10.3     median: 10.2 (2%)     max: 11 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 22     avg: 22.3     median: 22 (1%)     max: 22.98 s
min: 23     avg: 23.9     median: 24 (1%)     max: 24.31 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 531     avg: 534     median: 534 (2%)     max: 537 s
min: 563     avg: 573     median: 572 (3%)     max: 594 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
min: 115400     avg: 129935     median: 129935 (62%)     max: 144470 MIPS
min: 47300     avg: 50913     median: 50800 (24%)     max: 54750 MIPS
min: 100430     avg: 124162     median: 136000 (65%)     max: 136390 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
min: 83580     avg: 85345     median: 85345 (65%)     max: 87110 MFLOPS
min: 34130     avg: 34858     median: 35035 (27%)     max: 35230 MFLOPS
min: 75250     avg: 82146     median: 82470 (63%)     max: 85440 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
7.7 Points (99%)
min: 7     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
7.6 Points (97%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 24085     avg: 24928     median: 25094 (22%)     max: 25605 Points
min: 6288     avg: 8846     median: 9288.5 (8%)     max: 9552 Points
min: 12064     avg: 22380     median: 23290 (20%)     max: 23791 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
9329 Points (25%)
min: 2966     avg: 3437     median: 3409 (9%)     max: 3988 Points
min: 6455     avg: 8020     median: 8217 (22%)     max: 8505 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 3517U +
31781 Points (26%)
123%
1 3720QM +
min: 35881     avg: 39128     median: 39127.5 (32%)     max: 42374 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
100%
1 3720QM +
min: 39845     avg: 40576     median: 40575.5 (34%)     max: 41306 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 3517U +
2734 Points (7%)
217%
1 3720QM +
min: 5405     avg: 5873     median: 5921 (15%)     max: 6293 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 3517U +
3880 Points (7%)
209%
1 3720QM +
min: 7455     avg: 8124     median: 8113 (14%)     max: 8803 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
3739 Points (37%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
12082 Points (13%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
14452 Points (26%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
3898 Points (76%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
12555 Points (20%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 3720QM +
3289 Points (49%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 3517U +
5172 Points (42%)
172%
1 3720QM +
8890 Points (72%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 3517U +
5174 Points (47%)
146%
1 3720QM +
7573 Points (69%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 3517U +
6165 Points (12%)
206%
1 3720QM +
12725 Points (25%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 3517U +
5564 Points (11%)
205%
1 3720QM +
11403 Points (23%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 3517U +
5657 Points (15%)
192%
1 3720QM +
10848 Points (28%)
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
100%
1 3720QM +
1240 ms (1%)
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
100%
1 3720QM +
93.2 ms (1%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
100%
1 3720QM +
32210 Points (29%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 3720QM +
80.8 Watt (14%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 3720QM +
64.8 Watt (12%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
100%
1 3720QM +
9.4 Points per Watt (7%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3920XM → 100% n=22

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3517U → 63% n=22

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3720QM → 97% n=22

- 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. 21:45:12

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

#1 checking url part for id 3098 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 3064 +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 +0.035s ... 0.036s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.036s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 3062 +0.003s ... 0.038s

#8 got single benchmarks 3062 +0.022s ... 0.06s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 3098 +0.002s ... 0.062s

#10 got single benchmarks 3098 +0.071s ... 0.133s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 3064 +0.004s ... 0.137s

#12 got single benchmarks 3064 +0.044s ... 0.181s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.181s

#14 No cached benchmark found, getting uncached values +0.19s ... 0.371s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.094s ... 0.465s

#16 return log +0s ... 0.465s

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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)