Intel Core i5-3210M vs Intel Core i7-720QM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3210M and Intel Core i7-720QM processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3210M

Intel Core i7-720QM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3210M

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 8 month(s) later
Around 11% higher clock speed: 3.10 GHz vs 2.80 GHz
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 105 °C vs 100°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
4x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 8 GB
Around 29% lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 45 Watt
Around 65% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1524 vs 923
Around 49% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2466 vs 1660
Around 53% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 555 vs 362
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1227 vs 1146
10.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 5.786 vs 0.559
Around 49% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.245 vs 0.835

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	3 June 2012 vs 23 September 2009
Maximum frequency	3.10 GHz vs 2.80 GHz
Maximum core temperature	105 °C vs 100°C
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 8 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt vs 45 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1524 vs 923
PassMark - CPU mark	2466 vs 1660
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	555 vs 362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1227 vs 1146
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.786 vs 0.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.245 vs 0.835

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-720QM

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 31.243 vs 6.488
Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.323 vs 0.285
Around 7% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.405 vs 2.257

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB vs 512 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB vs 3072 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.243 vs 6.488
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.323 vs 0.285
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.405 vs 2.257

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3210M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-720QM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1524

923

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2466

1660

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

555

362

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1227

1146

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.786

0.559

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.488

31.243

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.285

0.323

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.245

0.835

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.257

2.405

Name	Intel Core i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-720QM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1524	923
PassMark - CPU mark	2466	1660
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	555	362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1227	1146
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.786	0.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	6.488	31.243
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.285	0.323
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.245	0.835
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.257	2.405
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	3036
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	3036

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-720QM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Clarksfield
Launch date	3 June 2012	23 September 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$225	$546
Place in performance rating	2356	3041
Price now	$120.68	$109.95
Processor Number	i5-3210M	i7-720QM
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	9.33	8.07
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.50 GHz	1.60 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	118 mm	296 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1024 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB	6144 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	100°C
Maximum frequency	3.10 GHz	2.80 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Front-side bus (FSB)		2500 MHz
Transistor count		774 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	8 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x166
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5 x 37.5mm (rPGA988B)	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCPGA988	PGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	45 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4	1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)