Intel Core i3-1115GRE vs Intel Core i7-3612QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3612QM and the Intel Core i3-1115GRE occupy the same performance tier despite being separated by eight years of architectural evolution. Both processors land at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1129 and 1127 respectively. The data reveals a fascinating paradox: a quad-core Ivy Bridge chip from 2012 and a dual-core Tiger Lake chip from 2020 produce nearly identical results across every Cinebench test. This head-to-head analysis explores how two fundamentally different designs converge on the same performance point, and where each still holds a distinct advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-3612QM doubles the core and thread count of the i3-1115GRE.

Q: How do their Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-3612QM scores 3944 versus 3899 for the i3-1115GRE, a 1.2% lead for the i7. In single-core R23, the i7 scores 556 versus 550, a 1.1% advantage.

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

A: The i7-3612QM has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i3-1115GRE has a TDP of 15 watts. The i3-1115GRE consumes less than half the power of the i7-3612QM.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i3-1115GRE supports ECC memory (eccMemory: true), while the i7-3612QM does not (eccMemory: false). This makes the i3-1115GRE suitable for reliability-critical workloads.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The i7-3612QM was released on 2012-04-28, while the i3-1115GRE was released on 2020-09-01. The i3-1115GRE is over eight years newer.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The i3-1115GRE boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the i7-3612QM boosts to 3.10 GHz. The i3-1115GRE has a 0.80 GHz higher boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3612QM wins in every single benchmark comparison, but the margins are remarkably thin. Across all six head-to-head tests, the i7-3612QM leads by margins ranging from 0.9% to 1.3%. The largest advantage comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i7-3612QM scores 397 versus 392, a 1.3% lead. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both chips score exactly 55, resulting in a 0% delta.

The i3-1115GRE does not win a single benchmark, but its losses are so narrow that it effectively matches the i7-3612QM in real-world terms. The i3-1115GRE's advantages lie outside raw compute benchmarks. It offers a much lower 15-watt TDP, supports ECC memory, and features PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The i7-3612QM counters with double the cores and threads, which suggests better multitasking headroom even if Cinebench scores show near-parity.

The data implies that the i7-3612QM wins on raw processing power, but the i3-1115GRE wins on efficiency and platform features. For workloads that benefit from more physical cores, the i7-3612QM has a structural advantage. For tasks that prioritize power consumption or require ECC reliability, the i3-1115GRE is the clear choice despite its benchmark losses.

Architecture Differences

The i7-3612QM is built on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and belongs to the Core i7 generation. The i3-1115GRE, in contrast, uses Tiger Lake-U architecture on a 10 nm process node, with a die size of 144 mm². It uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket and belongs to the Core i3 generation with Willow Cove-U microarchitecture.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i7-3612QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the i3-1115GRE has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache. The i3-1115GRE's larger per-core caches compensate for having fewer cores, providing each core with more local data storage.

The i3-1115GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the i7-3612QM's memory support is not listed in the data pack. The i3-1115GRE also features ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), and integrated UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The i7-3612QM has integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics. The i3-1115GRE is marked as "Active" in production status, while the i7-3612QM's status is not specified.

These architectural differences explain how a 2-core chip can match a 4-core chip. The i3-1115GRE's newer 10 nm process, higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, and larger per-core caches enable each core to do significantly more work. The i7-3612QM relies on raw core count and thread parallelism to achieve similar results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-3612QM has 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads for the i3-1115GRE. The base clocks are close, with the i7-3612QM at 2.10 GHz and the i3-1115GRE at 2.20 GHz, but the boost clocks diverge sharply: 3.10 GHz for the i7 versus 3.90 GHz for the i3.

The TDP difference is substantial, with the i7-3612QM rated at 35 watts and the i3-1115GRE at 15 watts. The sockets are incompatible, with the i7 using Intel Socket G2 (988B) and the i3 using Intel BGA 1449. The process nodes differ, with the i7 on 22 nm and the i3 on 10 nm.

The cache configurations are different: the i7 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i3 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache. The i3-1115GRE supports ECC memory, which the i7-3612QM does not. The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the i7's memory support is not listed. The i3 has PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the i7's PCIe support is not specified. The i7 uses Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i3 uses UHD Graphics G4 48EU.

The i7-3612QM has a part number of SR0MQ, while the i3-1115GRE has SRK13. The i3-1115GRE has a launch MSRP of $338. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent, narrow victory for the i7-3612QM across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 397 against 392 for the i3, a 1.3% lead. The single-core R15 test is a dead heat, with both chips scoring exactly 55. This tie is particularly telling because it shows that even with a 0.80 GHz boost clock advantage, the i3-1115GRE cannot outpace the older i7 in single-threaded performance.

In Cinebench R20, the i7-3612QM leads by 1.2% in multicore (1656 versus 1637) and by 0.9% in single-core (233 versus 231). The R23 results follow the same pattern: the i7 leads by 1.2% in multicore (3944 versus 3899) and by 1.1% in single-core (556 versus 550).

The margins are tight but consistent. The i7-3612QM wins all six benchmarks, but the largest delta is just 1.3%. This suggests that the two processors are functionally equivalent in compute performance, with the i7's extra cores providing a marginal advantage in multithreaded workloads. The i3's higher boost clock and larger per-core caches nearly offset the i7's core advantage, but not quite.

The avgBenchmarkScore confirms this picture: the i7-3612QM averages 1129, while the i3-1115GRE averages 1127. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the i7-3612QM include the Intel Core i5-4690T (deltaPct 0), Core i7-2720QM (deltaPct 0.1), and Core i3-4370 (deltaPct -0.1). The i3-1115GRE's nearest rivals include the Core i5-3330S (deltaPct -0.1), Core i7-2720QM (deltaPct -0.1), and the i7-3612QM itself (deltaPct -0.2).

The Verdict

The data indicates that the i7-3612QM is the technically faster processor, winning all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are so small that they would be imperceptible in daily use. The i7-3612QM's 4-core, 8-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads, and it maintains a slim lead even in single-core tests despite the i3's much higher boost clock.

The i3-1115GRE is the efficiency champion, consuming 15 watts versus 35 watts for the i7-3612QM. It offers ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 4, and DDR4/LPDDR4X memory compatibility, making it a more modern platform choice. Its 2-core, 4-thread design with larger per-core caches and a 3.90 GHz boost clock allows it to match the i7-3612QM's performance while using less than half the power.

For users who prioritize multithreaded performance and have access to the older Socket G2 platform, the i7-3612QM is the safer bet. Its benchmark wins, however narrow, are consistent across every test. For users who need ECC memory, lower power consumption, or PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, the i3-1115GRE is the only choice between these two, and the performance penalty is minimal at just 0.2% on average benchmark score.

The verdict from the data is clear: the i7-3612QM wins on performance, the i3-1115GRE wins on efficiency and platform features. Neither chip dominates the other in a meaningful way, and the choice between them should be driven entirely by platform requirements and power constraints rather than compute performance.