Intel Core i3-4130T vs Intel Core i7-2635QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2635QM and Intel Core i3-4130T are two processors from different eras and market segments. The i7-2635QM is a mobile part from the Sandy Bridge generation, while the i3-4130T is a desktop part from the Haswell generation. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the i7 wins all Cinebench tests, while the i3 wins both Geekbench tests. This makes the choice between them depend entirely on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2635QM dominates the Cinebench suite. In cinebench_r15_multicore, it scores 301 against 245 for the i3-4130T, a 22.9% advantage. The pattern repeats in cinebench_r20_multicore (1257 vs 1024, 22.8% ahead), cinebench_r20_singlecore (177 vs 144, 22.9% ahead), cinebench_r23_multicore (2995 vs 2440, 22.7% ahead), and cinebench_r23_singlecore (422 vs 344, 22.7% ahead). All five Cinebench tests favor the i7 by nearly identical margins, between 22.7% and 22.9%. This consistency suggests the i7’s advantage comes from its core configuration, not from any single architectural feature.

The Intel Core i3-4130T wins the two Geekbench tests. In geekbench_multicore, it scores 1787 against 1371 for the i7, a 23.3% margin. In geekbench_singlecore, it scores 903 against 442, a massive 51.1% margin. These are large differences, especially in single-core performance. The i3’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz, compared to the i7’s 2.00 GHz base, likely drives much of this advantage. The i7 can boost to 2.90 GHz, but the i3 runs at that speed constantly.

The wins are split 5-2 in favor of the i7, but the magnitude of the i3’s Geekbench wins is significant. The i3’s single-core Geekbench score is more than double the i7’s, which is a strong signal for applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance.

Architecture Differences

The i7-2635QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. Its L3 cache is 6 MB shared. The i3-4130T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and no boost capability. Its L3 cache is 3 MB shared.

The process node difference is notable: 32 nm for Sandy Bridge versus 22 nm for Haswell. The i3’s die is smaller at 177 mm², despite having more transistors (1,400 million vs 1,160 million). This reflects the denser 22 nm process. The i7’s die is larger at 216 mm². Both processors have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, and both use dual-channel memory. The i3 supports DDR3 memory and PCIe Gen 3, while the i7’s memory support is not listed in the database.

The i7 has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i3 has a TDP of 35 watts. The i7 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1224, while the i3 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1150. The i7 integrates Intel HD 3000 graphics; the i3 integrates Intel HD 4400. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i7 was released in January 2011, and the i3 in August 2013.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a uniform pattern. In cinebench_r15_multicore, the i7 scores 301, the i3 scores 245, and the delta is 22.9% in favor of the i7. In cinebench_r20_multicore, the scores are 1257 and 1024, a 22.8% delta. In cinebench_r20_singlecore, the scores are 177 and 144, a 22.9% delta. In cinebench_r23_multicore, the scores are 2995 and 2440, a 22.7% delta. In cinebench_r23_singlecore, the scores are 422 and 344, a 22.7% delta. The i7 wins every Cinebench test, and the margin is almost exactly 22.7% to 22.9% across all five tests. This near-constant delta suggests a structural advantage, likely the extra cores and threads. The i7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the i7 stays ahead, which points to the i7’s boost clock being effective in short single-threaded bursts.

The Geekbench results reverse the outcome. In geekbench_multicore, the i3 scores 1787 against the i7’s 1371, a 23.3% margin for the i3. In geekbench_singlecore, the i3 scores 903 against the i7’s 442, a 51.1% margin. The i3’s single-core Geekbench score is more than double the i7’s. This is a stark contrast to the Cinebench single-core results, where the i7 led by 22.7%. The difference likely comes from the i3’s higher sustained clock speed. The i3 runs at 2.90 GHz constantly, while the i7’s base is 2.00 GHz and its boost is 2.90 GHz. In Geekbench’s longer single-threaded workload, the i7 may not sustain its boost, while the i3 never drops below 2.90 GHz.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance. The i7 has an average benchmark score of 995, and the i3 has 984. The i7’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2920XM with a score of 995 and a delta of 0%, the AMD Opteron 4226 with a score of 995, the Intel Core i3-8130U with a score of 994 and a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Xeon W3565 with a score of 993 and a delta of 0.2%. The i3’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-875K with a score of 984, the Intel Xeon X3470 with a score of 983 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Core i3-4370T with a score of 983 and a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Xeon W5590 with a score of 986 and a delta of -0.2%. Both processors sit at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are roughly equivalent in overall standing despite their different benchmark profiles.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-4130T has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Why does the i3-4130T win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i3-4130T scores 903 in geekbench_singlecore, while the i7-2635QM scores 442, a 51.1% difference. The i3 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz with no boost, meaning it runs at that speed continuously. The i7 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost of 2.90 GHz, so its sustained single-threaded speed is likely lower in longer workloads.

Q: Does the i7-2635QM win every Cinebench test?

A: Yes. The i7 wins all five Cinebench tests in the database: cinebench_r15_multicore, cinebench_r20_multicore, cinebench_r20_singlecore, cinebench_r23_multicore, and cinebench_r23_singlecore. The margins range from 22.7% to 22.9%.

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

A: The i7-2635QM has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i3-4130T has a TDP of 35 watts. This makes the i3 more power-efficient on paper, though the i7 is a mobile part and the i3 is a desktop part.

Q: Which processor has a smaller die size?

A: The i3-4130T has a die size of 177 mm², while the i7-2635QM has a die size of 216 mm². The i3 also has more transistors, 1,400 million versus 1,160 million, despite being on a smaller process node.

Q: Do both processors have the same average benchmark score?

A: No. The i7-2635QM has an average benchmark score of 995, and the i3-4130T has 984. The difference is 11 points, about 1.1%.

The Verdict

The data shows two distinct usage profiles. For Cinebench-type workloads, which include 3D rendering and other heavily threaded tasks, the Intel Core i7-2635QM is clearly superior. It leads by 22.7% to 22.9% in all five Cinebench tests. The i7’s 4 cores and 8 threads give it a structural advantage over the i3’s 2 cores and 4 threads. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the i7 leads, suggesting its boost clock is effective for these shorter workloads.

For Geekbench-type workloads, which often include more varied and memory-intensive tasks, the Intel Core i3-4130T is the better choice. It wins geekbench_multicore by 23.3% and geekbench_singlecore by 51.1%. The i3’s higher sustained clock speed of 2.90 GHz, with no boost dependency, makes it faster in single-threaded scenarios that last longer than a brief burst.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: 995 for the i7 versus 984 for the i3. Both processors sit at the 27th percentile of all CPUs. This means that for a general-purpose user, the two processors will feel similar. But for a user who knows their workload, the choice is clear. A user running Cinebench-heavy applications, such as 3D rendering or video encoding, should pick the i7-2635QM. A user running Geekbench-heavy applications, such as certain productivity tools or legacy single-threaded software, should pick the i3-4130T.

The i7 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1224, while the i3 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1150. This means the socket choice will likely determine which processor is even usable in a given system. The i7’s 45 watt TDP is higher than the i3’s 35 watt TDP, but the i7 is designed for laptops, where power delivery is more constrained. The i3’s 35 watt TDP is low for a desktop part.

The i7's advantage in Cinebench is remarkably consistent, with all five deltas between 22.7% and 22.9%. The i3's advantage in Geekbench is less consistent, with a 23.3% multi-core win and a 51.1% single-core win. This suggests the i3's single-core performance is its standout feature, while its multi-core performance is only moderately better than the i7's.

For a user who needs the best possible single-threaded performance, the i3-4130T is the only choice. For a user who needs the best possible multi-threaded performance in Cinebench, the i7-2635QM is the only choice. The data does not support a clear overall winner, as the two processors trade wins across the benchmark suite. The final decision should rest on which benchmark suite matches the user's actual applications.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-2635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4130T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz; the i3 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and no boost clock. The i7 has a TDP of 45 watts, the i3 has a TDP of 35 watts.

The i7 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i7 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

The i7 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1224, with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics. The i3 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1150, with integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics. The i7 supports no listed memory type, while the i3 supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory. The i3 supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7 has no listed PCIe support. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7 was released in January 2011, the i3 in August 2013. The i7 has part number SR030, the i3 has part number SR1NN. The i7 is listed as end-of-life, while the i3 has no production status listed.