Intel Core i3-1115GRE vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2720QM and Intel Core i3-1115GRE are separated by nearly a decade of silicon evolution, yet their average benchmark scores land within 0.1% of each other. The older quad-core parts from 2011 trade blows with a modern dual-core from 2020, but the data reveals a clear shift in where performance now lives: the i3-1115GRE wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the FACT PACK, despite having half the physical cores. This comparison is less about raw throughput and more about architectural efficiency, clock speed, and the changing definition of what a mobile processor should deliver.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins all five recorded head-to-head tests, with no wins going to the i7-2720QM. The margins are consistent and narrow, hovering between 12.2% and 12.6% across all Cinebench workloads. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i3 scores 392 against the i7's 344, a delta of -12.2% from the perspective of the older chip. That gap widens slightly in R20 multicore, where the i3 posts 1637 versus 1435, a 12.3% advantage.

The single-core results tell a similar story with a slightly larger margin. Cinebench R20 single-core sees the i3 at 231 and the i7 at 202, a 12.6% difference. The R23 tests mirror this pattern: multicore scores of 3899 versus 3417 (12.4% delta) and single-core scores of 550 versus 482 (12.4% delta). There is no benchmark where the i7-2720QM pulls ahead, not even in the multi-threaded workloads where its four cores and eight threads should theoretically give it an edge over the i3's two cores and four threads. The data shows that the newer architecture's higher per-core efficiency more than compensates for the core count disadvantage.

When placed against their shared nearest rivals, both chips sit in the same performance tier. The i7-2720QM matches the Intel Core i5-3330S exactly with an average score of 1128, and the i3-1115GRE sits just one point behind at 1127. The i7-3612QM and i5-4690T both average 1129, meaning the entire cluster of four rivals is separated by just two points. This tight grouping underscores that the head-to-head deltas, while consistent, do not represent a massive gulf in overall capability—rather, they show a modest but uniform superiority for the newer part.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1115GRE wins everywhere the benchmark suite measures, but the nature of those wins points to specific use cases. Its strongest advantages come in single-core performance, where the Cinebench R20 delta of 12.6% is the largest margin recorded. This makes the i3 better suited for applications that rely on responsiveness and lightly threaded workloads: everyday productivity, web browsing, and office tasks that do not scale across many cores. The 550-point R23 single-core score and 231-point R20 single-core score indicate a processor that can handle bursty, latency-sensitive work with authority.

For multi-threaded workloads, the i3 also leads, but the margin is slightly smaller. The R23 multicore score of 3899 versus 3417 means the i3 is about 12.4% faster when all cores are engaged. This is notable because the i7 has twice the core count, yet still loses. The i3's advantage in this area suggests it can handle moderate multi-threaded tasks—video encoding, compilation, or 3D rendering—better than the older quad-core, though the absolute scores are not high enough to suggest serious workstation-class performance. The i7-2720QM, meanwhile, has no benchmark where it wins, so its role is limited to being a functional, if dated, option for legacy software or systems where the newer chip is not compatible.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the parity between the two. The i7's average of 1128 and the i3's average of 1127 are statistically identical, both landing at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. This means that for a broad mix of tasks, users would find little difference in overall responsiveness. The i3's wins are real but narrow, and they do not translate into a different performance class—both chips occupy the same lower-mid-range tier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is massive, and it explains the benchmark results. The i7-2720QM is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process from Intel's foundry, using 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3-1115GRE uses Tiger Lake-U with Willow Cove cores on a 10 nm process, with a smaller 144 mm² die and no transistor count listed in the data. The process node shrink from 32 nm to 10 nm is the single biggest factor driving the i3's efficiency advantage, allowing it to hit higher clocks on far lower power.

Clock speeds tell part of the story. Both chips have a 2.20 GHz base clock, but the i3 boosts to 3.90 GHz versus the i7's 3.30 GHz. That 0.6 GHz boost advantage is decisive in single-threaded work. The i3 also does this within a 15 W TDP, while the i7 consumes 45 W—a threefold power difference. The i3's 10 nm process and newer microarchitecture extract far more performance per watt, which is why it can beat a quad-core part with a higher power budget.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 6 MB of shared L3. The i3's L2 cache is nearly five times larger per core, which helps feed its higher clock speeds with fewer memory stalls. Both processors use dual-channel memory, but the i3 adds support for DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7's memory support is not listed. The i3 also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with four CPU lanes, whereas the i7's PCIe configuration is not specified.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7 ships with Intel HD 3000, while the i3 has UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The i7 uses an Intel BGA 1224 socket and is end-of-life, released in early 2011. The i3 uses Intel BGA 1449 and remains active in production, released in September 2020. The i3 has a listed launch MSRP of $338. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither targets the enthusiast overclocking market.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i3-1115GRE is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, despite offering only two cores and four threads against the i7-2720QM's four cores and eight threads. For anyone choosing between these two today, the i3 is the only sensible pick. It wins all five Cinebench tests by margins between 12.2% and 12.6%, does so on a third of the power (15 W versus 45 W), and comes from an active production line with modern platform support. The i7's only virtue is that it exists in the same performance tier, but it offers no benchmark advantage to justify its older socket, end-of-life status, or higher power draw.

The i3 is particularly well-suited for users who prioritize single-threaded responsiveness, as its 3.90 GHz boost clock and larger per-core cache deliver the best results in the data. It can also handle multi-threaded tasks better than the i7, which is remarkable given the core deficit. The i7-2720QM remains a functional processor for legacy systems, and its 45 W TDP suggests it was designed for larger laptops or mobile workstations of its era, but the benchmark results offer no reason to pick it over the i3 in a new build. The 32nd percentile ranking for both chips means neither is a high-performance part by modern standards, but within this pair, the i3-1115GRE is the definitive winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE scores 3899 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i7-2720QM scores 3417, giving the i3 a 12.4% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the i3-1115GRE in single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-1115GRE scores 231 versus the i7-2720QM's 202, a 12.6% delta. The R23 single-core test shows 550 versus 482, also a 12.4% difference.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i7-2720QM has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE has a TDP of 15 W. The i3 uses one-third the power of the i7.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of L3 cache?

A: Yes, both the i7-2720QM and the i3-1115GRE have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the i3 has larger L1 and L2 caches per core: 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively, versus 64 KB and 256 KB for the i7.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i7-2720QM wins?

A: No. The FACT PACK shows the i3-1115GRE winning all five head-to-head benchmarks, with the i7 recording zero wins.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-2720QM has an average benchmark score of 1128, and the i3-1115GRE has an average of 1127. The difference is 0.1%, placing both at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.