Intel Core i3-4170T vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4170T and Intel Core i7-2820QM occupy opposite corners of the benchmark spectrum, despite their nearly identical average scores. The i7-2820QM, a four-core Sandy Bridge mobile part, dominates across the Cinebench suite, while the i3-4170T, a dual-core Haswell desktop chip, posts decisive wins in Geekbench. The data shows a clear split: the i7 wins 5 of the 7 shared benchmarks, yet the i3 counters with the largest single-core margin in the entire comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2820QM is the clear victor in every Cinebench test, which stresses sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its wins are consistent and substantial: a 28% advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore (372 vs 268), a 27.8% lead in R20 multicore (1552 vs 1120), and a 27.9% margin in R23 multicore (3697 vs 2667). The pattern extends to single-core Cinebench tests, where the i7 posts a 28% edge in R20 singlecore (219 vs 157) and a 28% lead in R23 singlecore (522 vs 376). This is a processor built for compute-heavy tasks that scale across cores, leveraging its 4 cores and 8 threads against the i3’s 2 cores and 4 threads.

The Intel Core i3-4170T claims victory in the Geekbench suite, which tends to favor higher clock speeds and newer architectural efficiency. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1945 is 19.8% ahead of the i7’s 1623. The more dramatic result is in Geekbench singlecore, where the i3 scores 972 versus 517 for the i7 — an 88% advantage. This is not a marginal win; it is a near-doubling of performance in a workload that ignores core count and depends on per-thread throughput.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1072 for the i3 versus 1069 for the i7 — but this hides the bimodal distribution. The i7 wins where thread scaling matters, while the i3 wins where clock speed and IPC rule. The percentile rankings reflect this parity: the i3 sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7 at the 29th, with no meaningful gap in aggregate standing.

The Verdict

For workloads dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core i7-2820QM is the unequivocal choice. Its 28% edge across R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests means that any application leveraging 4 cores and 8 threads will see a tangible performance benefit. The i7’s 8 MB of shared L3 cache, versus 3 MB on the i3, supports this multi-threaded advantage by reducing memory latency in data-heavy tasks.

For single-threaded applications, the Intel Core i3-4170T is the better pick. Its Geekbench singlecore score of 972 completely overwhelms the i7’s 517, a delta that suggests the i3’s 3.20 GHz base clock and Haswell architecture deliver far superior per-core efficiency compared to the older Sandy Bridge design with its 2.30 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The i3 also wins Geekbench multicore by 19.8%, indicating that even its two cores outperform the i7’s four in this specific benchmark’s workload.

Neither processor is modern; both are end-of-life products. The i7-2820QM, released in early 2011, is a mobile part on Socket G2, while the i3-4170T, released in 2015, is a desktop chip on Socket 1150. Choosing between them depends entirely on the target workload. If the task is batch rendering or video encoding that scales across threads, the i7 wins. If the task is legacy single-threaded software or light desktop use, the i3 is the stronger candidate. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific one.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core i7-2820QM comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 372 against the i3’s 268, a 28% difference. This sets the tone for the entire Cinebench family: R20 multicore shows 1552 vs 1120 (27.8% delta), and R23 multicore shows 3697 vs 2667 (27.9% delta). The consistency of these margins — all falling between 27.8% and 28% — suggests a fixed architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The i7 also wins every single-core Cinebench test, though these are less publicized. In R20 singlecore, it scores 219 versus 157, a 28.3% delta. In R23 singlecore, it scores 522 versus 376, a 28% delta. These results are surprising because single-core tests typically favor higher clocks, but the i7’s 3.40 GHz boost clock appears insufficient to overcome the i3’s architectural edge in this suite. The i7’s Cinebench dominance is total: it wins all five shared Cinebench tests.

The Intel Core i3-4170T’s comeback is entirely in Geekbench. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1945 beats the i7’s 1623 by 19.8%, a reversal of the Cinebench trend. The single-core Geekbench result is the single most lopsided comparison in the entire dataset: 972 for the i3 versus 517 for the i7, an 88% delta. This is not a slight edge but a categorical difference in per-thread performance. The i3’s wins are fewer (2 vs 5) but include the largest absolute margin.

The head-to-head data reveals a clear correlation: the i7’s Cinebench wins are all clustered around 28%, while the i3’s Geekbench wins range from 19.8% to 88%. This suggests that the i7’s advantage is uniform across its strong suite, while the i3’s advantage is concentrated in a specific benchmark family. The average scores of 1072 and 1069 mask this divergence, making the head-to-head comparisons essential for understanding real-world behavior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170T scores 972, which is 88% higher than the Intel Core i7-2820QM’s 517.

Q: What is the margin of victory for the Intel Core i7-2820QM in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7 scores 3697 compared to the i3’s 2667, a 27.9% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-2820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM wins 5 of the 7 shared benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-4170T wins 2.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i3-4170T has an average score of 1072, and the i7-2820QM has an average score of 1069, a difference of only 3 points.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i3-4170T has 3 MB.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and market segments. The Intel Core i3-4170T is a Haswell desktop chip built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-2820QM is a Sandy Bridge mobile chip on a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The newer 22 nm node gives the i3 a transistor density advantage, but the i7’s larger die area accommodates more cores and cache.

The core configurations differ fundamentally: the i3 has 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading for 4 threads, while the i7 has 4 physical cores with Hyper-Threading for 8 threads. This doubles the thread count on the i7, directly explaining its Cinebench dominance. The L3 cache also reflects this: the i7 has 8 MB shared across all cores, versus 3 MB on the i3. Both have identical L1 and L2 caches per core at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively.

Clock speeds favor the i3 in base frequency — 3.20 GHz versus 2.30 GHz — but the i7 has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, which the i3 lacks entirely. This means the i7 can reach higher peak clocks under load, yet the i3’s higher sustained base clock and newer architecture win the Geekbench tests. The TDP difference is notable: the i3 draws 35 W to the i7’s 45 W, reflecting the i3’s smaller core count and newer manufacturing process.

Memory support differs in documentation: the i3 lists DDR3 support with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7 lists no explicit memory support or bandwidth figures in the data. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no PCIe data listed. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3 uses Intel HD 4400, while the i7 uses Intel HD 3000.

The sockets are incompatible: the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B). The i3 is a desktop part, while the i7 is a mobile part, meaning they cannot be swapped in the same system. The i3 has a part number of SR1TC, and the i7 has SR012. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, limiting overclocking potential. Both are end-of-life products, with the i7 released in January 2011 and the i3 in March 2015.