Intel Core i3-4330 vs Intel Core i7-2675QM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-2675QM wins every single head-to-head comparison recorded in the database. Across five Cinebench tests, the mobile Sandy Bridge processor takes all five victories, while the desktop Haswell-based Core i3-4330 records zero wins. This is not a close split with each chip dominating different workloads; it is a uniform sweep in favor of the older, mobile part.

Looking at the individual tests, the i7-2675QM's advantages are relatively narrow but remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 314 against the i3-4330's 298, a delta of -5.1% from the i3's perspective. The R20 multicore test shows 1309 versus 1245, a -4.9% gap. Single-core performance tells the same story: R20 single-core sees 184 against 175 (-4.9%), and R23 single-core sees 440 versus 418 (-5.0%). The i7-2675QM leads in every metric, but the margins are modest, ranging from roughly 4.9% to 5.1%.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this pattern. The i3-4330 averages 1020 across its recorded benchmarks, while the i7-2675QM averages 1012. Interestingly, the i3 has a slightly higher average score, yet it loses every direct head-to-head test. This discrepancy stems from the different benchmark sets each processor has in the database; the i7 includes Geekbench results, which drag its average down, while the i3's average is derived solely from Cinebench runs. For direct comparisons, the head-to-head table is the authoritative source, and it is unambiguous.

Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, meaning each outperforms roughly 28% of the database's tracked processors. Their nearest rivals also tell a similar story: the i3-4330's closest competitor is the Intel Pentium Gold G5600, which averages 1022 (a -0.2% delta), while the i7-2675QM's closest is the Intel Xeon W5580, averaging 1012 (a 0% delta). In practical terms, these two chips occupy nearly identical performance strata despite their architectural differences.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments, which explains much of their behavioral divergence. The i3-4330 is a Haswell desktop part, released in late August 2013, built on Intel's 22 nm process node. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die. The i7-2675QM is a Sandy Bridge mobile chip, released in October 2011, fabricated on a 32 nm node with 1,160 million transistors spread across a larger 216 mm² die. The older process is larger and less dense, yet the i7 still manages to win on performance.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i3-4330 offers 2 cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The i7-2675QM doubles that to 4 cores and 8 threads. This is the primary reason the mobile chip maintains its lead in multi-threaded workloads, despite its lower base clock. The i3's base clock is 3.50 GHz with no boost capability, while the i7 runs at 2.20 GHz base and boosts up to 3.10 GHz. Despite the i3's higher sustained frequency, the i7's extra physical cores overcome that deficit.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is larger on the i7: 6 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the i3. This larger cache pool benefits the i7 in workloads that reuse data across cores. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel buses, and neither supports ECC memory. The i3 uses PCIe Gen 3, while the i7's PCIe generation is not recorded in the database.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-4330 carries Intel HD 4600, while the i7-2675QM has Intel HD 3000. The i3's newer graphics architecture is likely more capable, but no graphics benchmarks are recorded, so this remains a qualitative observation. The i3 is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1150, while the i7 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1224. The i7 is marked as end-of-life, while the i3's production status is not specified. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both come from Intel's foundry.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head table contains five Cinebench tests, and the i7-2675QM wins all five. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i7 scores 314 against the i3's 298. This represents a -5.1% delta for the i3, meaning the i7 is about 5.1% faster. The R20 multicore test shows a similar gap: 1309 versus 1245, a -4.9% difference. These multicore results align with the core count advantage, though the margin is smaller than some might expect given the 4-core versus 2-core split.

Single-core tests are closer but still favor the i7. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 184 versus the i3's 175 (-4.9%). The R23 single-core test shows 440 versus 418 (-5.0%). This is noteworthy because the i3 has a significantly higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz), yet the i7's boost clock of 3.10 GHz, combined with its newer core architecture per clock, allows it to edge ahead in single-threaded work. The i7's per-core efficiency appears superior despite the older process node.

The i7 also has additional Geekbench results in its database entry, though these are not part of the head-to-head comparisons. Its Geekbench multicore score is 1301, and single-core is 415. These numbers are consistent with its Cinebench performance profile, placing it in the same performance tier as the i3. The i3 has no Geekbench scores recorded, so no direct comparison is possible on that suite.

Average benchmark scores, when viewed across each chip's full recorded suite, show the i3 at 1020 and the i7 at 1012. The i3's slightly higher average is a statistical artifact of differing test sets, not evidence of superior performance. In every directly comparable test, the i7 wins. The consistency of the -5% deltas across all five tests suggests a stable performance gap, not a workload-specific anomaly.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes a straightforward recommendation: for users prioritizing raw benchmark performance, the Intel Core i7-2675QM is the stronger choice. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from -4.9% to -5.1% in its favor. This advantage holds across both multicore and single-core workloads, meaning there is no scenario in the measured data where the i3-4330 pulls ahead.

However, the i3-4330 is not without merit. It is a desktop part with a much higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz), and it is built on a smaller 22 nm process with a newer Haswell architecture. For users who prefer a desktop platform with a newer integrated GPU (HD 4600 versus HD 3000), the i3 offers a more modern foundation. Its average benchmark score is marginally higher (1020 versus 1012), though this is not a head-to-head result.

The i7-2675QM, despite being older, end-of-life, and mobile, delivers better measured performance across the board. Its 4 cores and 8 threads provide a structural advantage that its lower clock speeds cannot negate. For anyone choosing purely on benchmark data, the i7 is the winner. For those who value a desktop socket, newer architecture, and higher base frequency, the i3 remains a viable alternative, but the performance data does not support selecting it over the i7.

Both processors sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are similar in performance. The i3's closest rival, the Pentium Gold G5600, is essentially tied at -0.2% delta, while the i7's closest, the Xeon W5580, is exactly tied at 0%. This confirms that these two chips, despite their internal differences, land in the same competitive tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-2675QM wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, while the Intel Core i3-4330 records zero wins.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any test?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i7 scores 314 versus the i3's 298, a -5.1% delta for the i3.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The i3-4330 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors have the same L3 cache size?

A: No, the i3-4330 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-2675QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The i3-4330 averages 1020, while the i7-2675QM averages 1012, based on their respective recorded benchmark suites.

Q: Are both processors at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the i3-4330 and the i7-2675QM sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4330 | Intel Core i7-2675QM |

|----------------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.10 GHz |

| TDP | 54 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel BGA 1224 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 216 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2011-10-11 |

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |

| Part Number | SR1NM | SR02S |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Not recorded |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | Not recorded |