i7-740QM vs i7-3520M

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3520M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.80
+56.5%
Core i7-740QM
2010
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
1.15

Core i7-3520M outperforms Core i7-740QM by an impressive 57% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking20172385
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7
Power efficiency4.872.42
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Clarksfield (2009−2010)
Release date3 June 2012 (12 years ago)20 June 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$346$546

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.9 GHz1.73 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz2.93 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rate5 GT/s2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data13
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size118 mm2296 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C100 °C
Number of transistorsno data774 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM 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 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCBGA1023,FCPGA988FCPGA988,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.2
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0+
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAEno data36 Bit
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM 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 i7-740QM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
Maximum memory size32 GB8 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000None
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.25 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM.

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
+56.5%
i7-740QM 1.15

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 2865
+56.5%
i7-740QM 1831

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 574
+65.4%
i7-740QM 347

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 1167
+20.4%
i7-740QM 969

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
+57.5%
i7-740QM 3082

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
+17.2%
i7-740QM 8930

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
+24.6%
i7-740QM 3318

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
+2.4%
i7-740QM 15.8

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
+6.7%
i7-740QM 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.80 1.15
Recency 3 June 2012 20 June 2010
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 4 8
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 45 Watt

i7-3520M has a 56.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 28.6% lower power consumption.

i7-740QM, on the other hand, has 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

The Core i7-3520M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-740QM in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3520M and Core i7-740QM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3520M
Core i7-3520M
Intel Core i7-740QM
Core i7-740QM

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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