Core i7-720QM vs Xeon E3-1220 v6

Primary details

Comparing Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1406	2324
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	8.87	no data
Market segment	Server	Laptop
Series	Intel Xeon E3	Intel Core i7
Architecture codename	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Clarksfield (2009−2010)
Release date	28 March 2017 (7 years ago)	23 September 2009 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$193	$546
Current price	$108 (0.6x MSRP)	$418 (0.8x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM 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 cores	4 (Quad-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	3 GHz	1.6 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.5 GHz	2.8 GHz
Bus support	8 GT/s	2500 MHz
L1 cache	256 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	45 nm
Die size	no data	296 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Number of transistors	no data	774 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM 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 configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCPGA988,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)	72 Watt	45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	no data
vPro	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	1.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	+	no data
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
PAE	no data	36 Bit
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	no data
SGX	Yes with both Intel® SPS and Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866	DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
Maximum memory size	64 GB	8 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	21 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card

no data

None

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	N/A	no data
Max resolution over eDP	N/A	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	N/A	no data
Max resolution over VGA	N/A	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	N/A	no data
OpenGL	N/A	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM.

PCIe version	3.0	2
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

Xeon E3-1220 v6 outperforms Core i7-720QM by 248% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	3.72	1.07
Recency	28 March 2017	23 September 2009
Threads	4	8
Cost	$193	$546
Chip lithography	14 nm	45 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	72 Watt	45 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Xeon E3-1220 v6 and Core i7-720QM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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