i3-4000M vs i7-3520M

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3520M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.80
+60.7%
Core i3-4000M
2013
2 cores / 4 threads, 37 Watt
1.12

Core i7-3520M outperforms Core i3-4000M by an impressive 61% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking20182403
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i3
Power efficiency4.872.86
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date3 June 2012 (12 years ago)4 September 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$346$225

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M 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 cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.9 GHz2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz2.4 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size118 mm2118 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C100 °C
Number of transistorsno data1,400 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M 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 configuration11
SocketFCPGA988, FCBGA1023FCPGA946
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt37 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI+-
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection++
Anti-Theft++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 4000Intel HD Graphics 4600
Max video memoryno data2 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.25 GHz1.1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
VGAno data+
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno data2880x1800@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M.

PCIe version3.02
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.

i7-3520M 1.80
+60.7%
i3-4000M 1.12

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.

i7-3520M 2867
+60.6%
i3-4000M 1785

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.

i7-3520M 572
i3-4000M 719
+25.7%

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.

i7-3520M 1163
i3-4000M 1451
+24.8%

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.

i7-3520M 4855
+35.6%
i3-4000M 3581

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.

i7-3520M 10467
+30.2%
i3-4000M 8042

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.

i7-3520M 4134
+33.4%
i3-4000M 3098

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.

i7-3520M 15.43
+29.6%
i3-4000M 20

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.

i7-3520M 3
+29.2%
i3-4000M 3

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i7-3520M 1.46
+37.7%
i3-4000M 1.06

x264 encoding pass 2

x264 Pass 2 is a slower variant of x264 video compression that produces a variable bit rate output file, which results in better quality since the higher bit rate is used when it is needed more. Benchmark result is still measured in frames per second.  

i7-3520M 19
+24.5%
i3-4000M 15

x264 encoding pass 1

x264 version 4.0 is a video encoding benchmark uses MPEG 4 x264 compression method to compress a sample HD (720p) video. Pass 1 is a faster variant that produces a constant bit rate output file. Its result is measured in frames per second, which means how many frames of the source video file were encoded per second.  

i7-3520M 99
+24.7%
i3-4000M 79

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.80 1.12
Integrated graphics card 1.18 1.84
Recency 3 June 2012 4 September 2013
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 37 Watt

i7-3520M has a 60.7% higher aggregate performance score, and 5.7% lower power consumption.

i3-4000M, on the other hand, has 55.9% faster integrated GPU, and an age advantage of 1 year.

The Core i7-3520M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-4000M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3520M and Core i3-4000M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3520M
Core i7-3520M
Intel Core i3-4000M
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Community ratings

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