i7-3520M vs i7-2630QM

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2630QM
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
2.24
+23.8%
Core i7-3520M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.81

Core i7-2630QM outperforms Core i7-3520M by a significant 24% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking18192003
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7
Power efficiency4.714.89
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date3 January 2011 (13 years ago)3 June 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$378$346

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2 GHz2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed2.9 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier20no data
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm22 nm
Die size216 mm2118 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C105 °C
Number of transistors1,160 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCPGA988,PPGA988FCBGA1023,FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® AVX
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Demand Based Switching--
FDI++
Fast Memory Access++

Security technologies

Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection++
Anti-Theft++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333DDR3
Maximum memory size16 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.335 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 3000Intel HD Graphics 4000
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1.25 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
SDVO++
CRT++

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-2630QM 2.24
+23.8%
i7-3520M 1.81

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-2630QM 3558
+24.1%
i7-3520M 2868

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-2630QM 441
i7-3520M 573
+29.9%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-2630QM 1374
+17.9%
i7-3520M 1165

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-2630QM 3662
i7-3520M 4855
+32.6%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-2630QM 13833
+32.2%
i7-3520M 10467

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-2630QM 5039
+21.9%
i7-3520M 4134

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-2630QM 10.1
+52.8%
i7-3520M 15.43

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-2630QM 5
+43.5%
i7-3520M 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.24 1.81
Integrated graphics card 0.66 1.18
Recency 3 January 2011 3 June 2012
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 35 Watt

i7-2630QM has a 23.8% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i7-3520M, on the other hand, has 78.8% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 1 year, a 45.5% more advanced lithography process, and 28.6% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-2630QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3520M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2630QM and Core i7-3520M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-2630QM
Core i7-2630QM
Intel Core i7-3520M
Core i7-3520M

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.2 492 votes

Rate Core i7-2630QM on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 311 votes

Rate Core i7-3520M on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2630QM or Core i7-3520M, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.