Intel Core i3-4150 vs Intel Core i7-2860QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2860QM and Intel Core i3-4150 represent two very different design philosophies from Intel, separated by three years of architecture evolution. The benchmark data reveals a striking split: the mobile i7 dominates every Cinebench rendering test, while the desktop i3 wins decisively in Geekbench. With an average benchmark score of 1120 for the i7-2860QM and 1119 for the i3-4150, the overall performance is nearly identical, yet the specific workloads tell a more nuanced story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows an overwhelming and consistent victory for the Intel Core i7-2860QM. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 390 against the i3's 290, a lead of 34.5%. The pattern repeats across every Cinebench iteration. R20 multi-core shows the i7 at 1626 versus 1212, a 34.2% advantage. R23 multi-core continues the trend with 3873 against 2888, a 34.1% gap. Even more telling are the single-core Cinebench results. The i7-2860QM scores 546 in R23 single-core versus 407 for the i3-4150, a 34.2% margin. The R20 single-core test shows 229 versus 170, a 34.7% gap. These results are remarkably uniform, hovering near 34% across all five Cinebench metrics.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-4150 scores 1896 against the i7's 1681, giving the i3 an 11.3% lead. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: the i3-4150 scores 968 versus the i7's 558, a massive 42.4% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison.

The overall wins tally favors the i7-2860QM with 5 wins out of 7 benchmarks, but the margin of victory matters as much as the count. The i7 wins by roughly 34% in each Cinebench test, while the i3 wins by 11.3% and 42.4% in the two Geekbench tests. The average benchmark scores confirm the near-parity: the i7-2860QM sits at 1120, and the i3-4150 at 1119, with a deltaPct of just 0.1% between them.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2860QM is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3873 is 34.1% higher than the i3's 2888, and the R15 multi-core score of 390 beats 290 by 34.5%. This suggests that applications leveraging multiple cores and threads will see substantial benefits from the i7. The i7's single-core Cinebench performance also outpaces the i3, with R20 single-core showing 229 versus 170 and R23 single-core showing 546 versus 407, both around 34% faster. This indicates that even single-threaded rendering tasks favor the i7, likely due to its higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

The Intel Core i3-4150 wins decisively in Geekbench workloads. Its single-core score of 968 crushes the i7's 558, a 42.4% improvement. The multi-core Geekbench score of 1896 also beats the i7's 1681 by 11.3%. This suggests the i3 has superior memory access patterns or better instruction-level efficiency in these specific tests. The i3's base clock of 3.50 GHz, combined with its lack of a boost clock, means it runs at a constant high frequency, which may explain its Geekbench advantage.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering, video encoding, or other heavily threaded tasks, the i7-2860QM is superior. For users running Geekbench-style integer and floating-point tests, general productivity, or single-threaded applications, the i3-4150 offers better raw throughput. The two processors are essentially tied in average benchmark score, so the choice depends entirely on the specific workload profile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i7-2860QM uses Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, manufactured by Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4150 uses Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, also manufactured by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The newer 22 nm process allows the i3 to pack more transistors into a smaller area, but the i7's larger die accommodates more cores.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i7-2860QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4150 has only 2 cores and 4 threads. This explains the i7's dominance in multi-threaded Cinebench tests. The i7's L3 cache is 8 MB shared, while the i3's is only 3 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The larger L3 cache on the i7 likely contributes to its better rendering performance.

Clock speeds tell part of the story. The i7-2860QM has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, allowing it to reach higher frequencies when needed. The i3-4150 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz but no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. The i7's boost capability may explain why it wins single-core Cinebench tests despite a lower base clock.

The processors target different market segments and sockets. The i7-2860QM is a mobile processor on Intel Socket G2 (988B) with a TDP of 45 W. The i3-4150 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1150 with a TDP of 54 W. The i7's lower TDP is notable given its higher core count, reflecting the mobile power envelope. The i7 uses integrated graphics Intel HD 3000, while the i3 uses Intel HD 4400. The i3 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth; the i7's memory support is not specified, though it also uses dual-channel memory. The i3 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7's PCIe support is unspecified.

The i7-2860QM was released on 2011-09-03, while the i3-4150 was released on 2014-04-30. The i3's launch MSRP was $117. Both processors are end-of-life and have a multiplier that is not unlocked.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The Intel Core i7-2860QM wins 5 out of 7 benchmarks, all in the Cinebench suite, with consistent margins around 34%. The Intel Core i3-4150 wins the two Geekbench tests, with a 42.4% advantage in single-core and 11.3% in multi-core. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1120 for the i7 and 1119 for the i3, a delta of only 0.1%.

For users prioritizing rendering workloads, the i7-2860QM is the obvious pick. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, combined with an 8 MB L3 cache and a 3.60 GHz boost clock, deliver superior Cinebench performance across the board. The 34.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core translates to meaningful time savings in video rendering, 3D modeling, and similar tasks.

For users prioritizing Geekbench-style performance, the i3-4150 is superior. Its fixed 3.50 GHz clock and newer Haswell architecture deliver a 42.4% single-core advantage and 11.3% multi-core advantage in Geekbench. This makes it better for general productivity, office applications, and single-threaded software.

The market segment difference is critical. The i7-2860QM is a mobile chip with a 45 W TDP, suitable for laptops and portable workstations. The i3-4150 is a desktop chip with a 54 W TDP, intended for stationary systems. The i7's lower power draw relative to its core count is a notable engineering achievement, but the i3's higher clock speed and newer architecture give it an edge in frequency-sensitive tasks.

The i3-4150's launch MSRP of $117 was its only official pricing. The i7-2860QM has no listed launch MSRP. Both processors are end-of-life, so availability depends on the used market. The percentile ranking for both is 32, placing them in the same performance tier relative to all CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM has an average benchmark score of 1120, while the Intel Core i3-4150 has an average score of 1119, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.1% in favor of the i7.

Q: How much faster is the i7-2860QM in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-2860QM scores 3873 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 34.1% higher than the i3-4150's score of 2888.

Q: What is the single-core Geekbench performance difference?

A: The i3-4150 scores 968 in Geekbench single-core, which is 42.4% higher than the i7-2860QM's score of 558.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The i7-2860QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4150 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the TDP values for each processor?

A: The i7-2860QM has a TDP of 45 W, while the i3-4150 has a TDP of 54 W.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-2860QM has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4150 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.