Intel Core i3-1115GRE vs Intel Core i7-2860QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2860QM and the Intel Core i3-1115GRE represent two very different approaches to mobile computing, separated by nearly a decade of architectural evolution. The i7-2860QM is a quad-core Sandy Bridge part from 2011, while the i3-1115GRE is a dual-core Tiger Lake-U chip from 2020. Despite the i7’s higher core count and older pedigree, the benchmark data shows that the i3-1115GRE wins every single head-to-head test, albeit by narrow margins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE has an average benchmark score of 1127, while the Intel Core i7-2860QM scores 1120. Both sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the biggest single-core performance difference between them?

A: In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i3-1115GRE scores 55 against the i7-2860QM’s 54, a delta of -1.8% (favoring the i3).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-2860QM boosts to 3.60 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-1115GRE supports ECC memory, while the i7-2860QM does not.

Q: What is the socket difference between the two?

A: The i7-2860QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the i3-1115GRE uses Intel BGA 1449.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The i7-2860QM is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process from Intel’s foundry, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. The i3-1115GRE uses Tiger Lake-U (Willow Cove-U architecture) on a 10 nm process, with a smaller die of 144 mm². The process node difference alone explains much of the efficiency gap. The i7-2860QM has a TDP of 45 watts, whereas the i3-1115GRE sips power at just 15 watts.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The i7-2860QM offers 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3. The i3-1115GRE provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The newer chip’s larger per-core L2 is a hallmark of the Willow Cove design, improving data locality despite fewer total cores.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-2860QM predates explicit DDR4 support in the fact pack, while the i3-1115GRE lists DDR4 and LPDDR4X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3-1115GRE also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7-2860QM. PCIe capability is noted only for the i3-1115GRE, which has Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-2860QM carries Intel HD 3000, while the i3-1115GRE uses UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units. Production status separates them further: the i7-2860QM is end-of-life, whereas the i3-1115GRE remains active. The release dates are 2011-09-03 for the i7-2860QM and 2020-09-01 for the i3-1115GRE.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1115GRE wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are remarkably thin. The data shows that the newer dual-core chip edges out the older quad-core in all six Cinebench tests. This suggests that the i3-1115GRE’s architectural advantages — newer process, higher boost clock, and more efficient cache design — outweigh the i7-2860QM’s core count advantage in these workloads.

The i7-2860QM’s only theoretical advantage lies in thread count. With 8 threads versus 4, it should handle heavily threaded applications better in principle. Yet the benchmark results contradict this. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i3-1115GRE scores 3899 against the i7-2860QM’s 3873, a -0.7% delta. The i7’s extra threads do not translate into a win, likely because the older Sandy Bridge cores are far less efficient per clock.

For single-threaded tasks, the i3-1115GRE’s higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.60 GHz) and newer architecture give it a consistent edge. The largest single-core margin is in Cinebench R15, where the i3-1115GRE leads by 1.8%. The i7-2860QM does not post a single winning score in any test category.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The i7-2860QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i7-2860QM and 2.20 GHz for the i3-1115GRE. Boost clocks reverse the order: 3.60 GHz for the i7-2860QM, 3.90 GHz for the i3-1115GRE.

TDP is a major differentiator: 45 watts for the i7-2860QM versus 15 watts for the i3-1115GRE. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket G2 (988B) versus Intel BGA 1449. Process nodes differ at 32 nm versus 10 nm. The i7-2860QM’s die size is 216 mm², while the i3-1115GRE measures 144 mm². Transistor count is listed only for the i7-2860QM at 1,160 million.

Cache configurations are distinct. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on the i7-2860QM versus 80 KB per core on the i3-1115GRE. L2 cache is 256 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared. Memory support shows the i3-1115GRE explicitly supporting DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7-2860QM has no listed memory types.

ECC memory support exists only on the i3-1115GRE. PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only) is listed only for the i3-1115GRE. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 3000 versus UHD Graphics G4 48EU. Production status: end-of-life versus active. Release dates are 2011-09-03 versus 2020-09-01. The i3-1115GRE also has a launch MSRP of $338. Both are locked multipliers, and both target the mobile market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the i3-1115GRE wins all six head-to-head tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-1115GRE scores 392 against the i7-2860QM’s 390, a -0.5% delta. The single-core R15 test shows a wider gap: 55 versus 54, a -1.8% delta. This is the largest percentage difference in any test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 1637 for the i3-1115GRE and 1626 for the i7-2860QM, a -0.7% delta. Single-core R20 results are 231 versus 229, a -0.9% delta. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23: multicore scores are 3899 versus 3873 (a -0.7% delta), and single-core scores are 550 versus 546 (a -0.7% delta).

The Geekbench results are not part of the head-to-head array, but the i7-2860QM’s standalone scores are 1681 multicore and 558 singlecore. The i3-1115GRE lacks Geekbench entries in the data. Across all shared tests, the i3-1115GRE’s margins range from 0.5% to 1.8%, indicating a consistent but narrow superiority.

The i7-2860QM’s nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon 240GE (avg score 1121), Intel Xeon D-1518 (1121), Intel Core i3-4150 (1119), and Intel Core i5-3550S (1118). The i3-1115GRE’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-3330S (1128), Intel Core i7-2720QM (1128), Intel Core i7-3612QM (1129), and Intel Core i5-4690T (1129). The delta percentages against these rivals are all within 0.2%, placing both chips in a tight performance cluster.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Core i3-1115GRE. It wins every benchmark in the comparison, from Cinebench R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore tests. The largest margin is a 1.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the smallest is a 0.5% lead in R15 multicore. For users prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench workloads, the i3-1115GRE is the better choice.

The i7-2860QM’s quad-core, 8-thread configuration does not overcome the architectural deficit. Its 45-watt TDP versus the i3-1115GRE’s 15-watt TDP suggests that the newer chip achieves comparable or better performance at a fraction of the power draw. The i3-1115GRE also offers ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 4, making it more suitable for reliability-focused or modern-system deployments.

However, the i7-2860QM is not without merit. Its 8 MB of L3 cache exceeds the i3-1115GRE’s 6 MB, and its higher base clock of 2.50 GHz could benefit workloads that sustain long, consistent loads without boosting. For legacy systems still on Socket G2, upgrading to this chip might be a viable path, though production status is end-of-life.

The i3-1115GRE’s active production status, newer process node, and support for modern memory standards make it the more future-proof option. Its average benchmark score of 1127 slightly edges out the i7-2860QM’s 1120, reinforcing the head-to-head results. For new purchases or system builders, the i3-1115GRE is the data-backed recommendation. For those maintaining an older Sandy Bridge platform, the i7-2860QM remains a functional, if dated, quad-core option.