i7-920 vs i7-3720QM

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3720QM
2012
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
3.57
+99.4%
Core i7-920
2008
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
1.79

Core i7-3720QM outperforms Core i7-920 by an impressive 99% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15132013
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data1.22
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7Core i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency7.511.30
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Bloomfield (2008−2010)
Release date29 April 2012 (12 years ago)November 2008 (16 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$378$340

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads88
Base clock speed2.6 GHz2.66 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz2.93 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s1333 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size160 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C68 °C
Number of transistors1,400 million731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 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
SocketFCBGA1224,FCPGA988FCLGA1366,PLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.2
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.01.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching--
PAEno data36 Bit
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 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 i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d+no data
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB24 GB
Max memory channels23
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000no data
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 i7-3720QM and Core i7-920 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 i7-3720QM and Core i7-920.

PCIe version3.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no data

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.

i7-3720QM 3.57
+99.4%
i7-920 1.79

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.

i7-3720QM 5671
+99.9%
i7-920 2837

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.

i7-3720QM 602
+45.1%
i7-920 415

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.

i7-3720QM 2037
+43%
i7-920 1424

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.

i7-3720QM 4821
+24.4%
i7-920 3874

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.

i7-3720QM 18879
+21.2%
i7-920 15576

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.

i7-3720QM 6642
+40.5%
i7-920 4728

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.

i7-3720QM 7.85
+21.9%
i7-920 9.57

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.

i7-3720QM 7
+40.5%
i7-920 5

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3720QM 6190
+55.9%
i7-920 3970

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.57 1.79
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 130 Watt

i7-3720QM has a 99.4% higher aggregate performance score, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 188.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3720QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-920 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-3720QM is a notebook processor while Core i7-920 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-920, 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 i7-3720QM
Core i7-3720QM
Intel Core i7-920
Core i7-920

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.


4.5 204 votes

Rate Core i7-3720QM on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 399 votes

Rate Core i7-920 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3720QM or Core i7-920, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.