Intel Core i3-4350T vs Intel Core i7-2715QE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split here is unusually one-sided. The Intel Core i7-2715QE wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. The lead is consistent but narrow, ranging from 1.5% to 1.9% depending on the test. That means the i7-2715QE is not dramatically faster in any single workload, but it never loses either. The i3-4350T does not claim a single victory across the recorded suite.

Looking at the multi-core tests specifically, the i7-2715QE’s advantage is driven by its core and thread count. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4350T has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite that 2x thread advantage, the i7-2715QE only manages a 1.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 1.7% lead in R20 and R23 multi-core. That is a surprisingly small margin, which suggests the i3-4350T’s higher base clock (3.10 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) is compensating heavily for its lack of threads. The i3 has no boost clock at all, so it runs flat at 3.10 GHz, whereas the i7 boosts from 2.10 GHz up to 3.00 GHz.

For single-core workloads, the i7-2715QE still wins but by a similarly slim margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core it scores 162 versus 159, a 1.9% lead. In R23 single-core it scores 386 versus 380, a 1.6% lead. The i3-4350T’s higher fixed clock keeps it close, but the older Sandy Bridge architecture in the i7 still edges ahead.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story. The i7-2715QE averages 942 across all recorded tests, while the i3-4350T averages 926. That is a 1.7% overall gap. Both sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are mid-pack performers in absolute terms, but relative to each other the i7 is consistently ahead.

The nearest rivals for each chip also show how close this pairing is. The i7-2715QE’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941 average score, just 0.1% behind. The i3-4350T’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927, also 0.1% away. In other words, both chips are competing in a crowded performance band where a few points of Cinebench score separate many products.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and target completely different market segments. The i7-2715QE is a Sandy Bridge part, built on Intel’s 32 nm process, and it is a mobile chip. The i3-4350T is a Haswell part on the 22 nm node, and it is a desktop processor. That process difference matters: Haswell is a later design with better IPC efficiency, which helps explain why a 2-core i3 can keep pace with a 4-core i7.

Transistor counts and die sizes differ noticeably. The i7-2715QE packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3-4350T has 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 177 mm² die. The denser 22 nm process allows Haswell to fit more transistors into less space, and that architectural maturity shows up in the benchmark results.

Cache layouts are another point of divergence. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is where they split: the i7-2715QE has 6 MB shared, while the i3-4350T has 4 MB shared. The i7’s larger L3 makes sense given its extra cores, but the benchmark data shows that extra cache does not translate into a large performance lead.

The sockets are entirely different, and they are not interchangeable. The i7-2715QE uses Intel BGA 1023, which is a soldered mobile socket. The i3-4350T uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop LGA socket. These are fundamentally different platforms, so there is no upgrade path between them without changing motherboards entirely.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-2715QE carries Intel HD 3000, while the i3-4350T has Intel HD 4600. The i3’s newer GPU architecture is generally more capable, though the database does not record any specific graphics benchmarks for these chips. Memory support is another split: the i3-4350T explicitly supports DDR3 with a documented bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s over dual-channel, while the i7-2715QE’s memory support field is blank in the records. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

The i3-4350T also has explicit PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, while the i7-2715QE has no PCIe information listed. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-4350T carries a launch MSRP of $138, while the i7-2715QE has no recorded launch price.

The Verdict

The data points to a narrow but consistent victory for the Intel Core i7-2715QE. It wins every recorded Cinebench test, which means that for pure CPU rendering workloads in the database, it is the pick. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage in threaded tasks, and its single-core scores are also slightly higher despite the i3’s higher base clock.

However, the margin is thin enough that the choice should depend on the platform, not just raw performance. The i7-2715QE is a mobile BGA part, which means it is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. The i3-4350T is a desktop Socket 1150 chip, which means it can be installed, removed, and replaced. If you are building a desktop system, the i3-4350T is the practical option despite losing every benchmark, because you can actually use it in a standard motherboard.

For a mobile device, the i7-2715QE is the stronger performer, but it comes with the constraints of a BGA socket. The i3-4350T has a lower TDP at 35 watts versus 45 watts, which is relevant for cooling and power delivery. The i3 also has a much higher base clock at 3.10 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, so in workloads that do not scale with threads, the i3 is closer than the core count would suggest.

The percentile ranking puts both at 25th among all CPUs, so neither is a high-end part by modern standards. But within this head-to-head, the i7-2715QE is the one to choose if you are optimizing purely for Cinebench-style performance and you are locked into a BGA platform. The i3-4350T is the choice for a socketed desktop build where serviceability matters more than a 1.5% to 1.9% benchmark edge.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-2715QE wins every multi-core test. It scores 275 in R15 versus 271, 1149 in R20 versus 1130, and 2737 in R23 versus 2692. The margin ranges from 1.5% to 1.7%.

Q: Does the i3-4350T ever beat the i7-2715QE in any benchmark?

A: No. Across all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i7-2715QE wins all five. The i3-4350T has zero wins in the database.

Q: Why is the i3-4350T so close despite having half the cores and threads?

A: The i3-4350T has a much higher base clock at 3.10 GHz with no boost, while the i7-2715QE starts at 2.10 GHz and boosts to 3.00 GHz. That higher sustained clock partially compensates for the 2-core, 4-thread limit.

Q: Can these two chips be used in the same motherboard?

A: No. The i7-2715QE uses Intel BGA 1023, a soldered mobile socket. The i3-4350T uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop LGA socket. They are incompatible platforms.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i7-2715QE has a 45-watt TDP, while the i3-4350T has a 35-watt TDP. The i3 is the lower-power part.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-2715QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-4350T has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The closest race is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-2715QE scores 275 and the i3-4350T scores 271. That is a 1.5% lead for the i7. The R20 multi-core test shows a 1.7% gap, with scores of 1149 and 1130 respectively. The R23 multi-core test repeats that 1.7% margin, with 2737 versus 2692.

The single-core tests are just as tight. In R20 single-core, the i7-2715QE scores 162 and the i3-4350T scores 159, a 1.9% difference. In R23 single-core, the scores are 386 and 380, a 1.6% gap. The i7-2715QE wins all five tests, but the largest margin is only 1.9%.

The average benchmark score reinforces this pattern. The i7-2715QE averages 942, and the i3-4350T averages 926. That is a 16-point difference, or roughly 1.7%. For context, the i7-2715QE’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941, which is only 0.1% behind. The i3-4350T’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927, also 0.1% away. Both chips are effectively trading blows with a cluster of similarly performing parts.

The i3-4350T’s best showing relative to the i7 is in R15 multi-core, where the 1.5% gap is the smallest. Its worst is R20 single-core at 1.9%. The i7-2715QE’s thread advantage does not produce a landslide, which speaks to the i3’s architectural efficiency on the 22 nm Haswell node. If the i3 had a boost clock or more threads, the results could easily flip.

Specification Differences

The core configuration is the most obvious difference. The i7-2715QE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4350T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7 supports boost up to 3.00 GHz from a 2.10 GHz base. The i3 runs at a fixed 3.10 GHz with no boost capability. The i7 has a 45-watt TDP, and the i3 has a 35-watt TDP.

The sockets are entirely different: Intel BGA 1023 for the i7 and Intel Socket 1150 for the i3. The architecture generation also differs: Sandy Bridge for the i7 and Haswell for the i3. The process nodes are 32 nm for the i7 and 22 nm for the i3. Transistor counts are 1,160 million for the i7 and 1,400 million for the i3. Die sizes are 216 mm² for the i7 and 177 mm² for the i3.

L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i7 and 4 MB shared on the i3. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The i3 explicitly supports DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7’s memory support is not recorded. The i3 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, and the i7 has no PCIe data listed. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 3000 on the i7 and Intel HD 4600 on the i3. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-4350T has a launch MSRP of $138, while the i7-2715QE has no recorded launch MSRP.