Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i7-2760QM Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4360 and Intel Core i7-2760QM occupy the same 29th percentile in the global CPU benchmark distribution, with average scores of 1061 and 1057, respectively. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the head-to-head data reveals a decisive split: the mobile i7-2760QM wins all five shared benchmark tests, with margins ranging from 15.0% to 15.3%. The desktop i3-4360, however, counters with a substantially higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, a newer 22 nm process node versus 32 nm, and a more modern Haswell architecture. The data suggests these are two differently-tuned processors that land at the same performance tier through opposite design philosophies.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-2760QM is the clear performance winner in every directly comparable benchmark. Its 4 cores and 8 threads deliver 366 points in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 310 for the i3-4360, a 15.3% advantage. This pattern holds across all Cinebench versions: R20 multicore (1525 vs 1294), R23 multicore (3631 vs 3082), and even single-core tests where the i3's higher clock speed might be expected to help. The i7-2760QM scores 215 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 182, and 512 in R23 single-core versus 435.

For users choosing between these two, the i7-2760QM is the choice for any workload that can utilize more than two cores. The data shows its 8 threads provide consistent 15%+ advantages across all tested multi-threaded scenarios. The i3-4360, being a desktop part, offers the advantage of a 54 W TDP in a desktop platform, but its performance ceiling is simply lower. The i7-2760QM also carries the distinction of being an end-of-life mobile part, while the i3-4360 has no such designation. For anyone building or upgrading a system where these are the two options, the benchmark results are unambiguous: the i7-2760QM outperforms the i3-4360 in every single measured category.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2760QM wins decisively in all shared benchmarks, making it the superior choice for multi-threaded productivity, content creation, and any parallel workload. Its 4-core, 8-thread configuration with 6 MB of shared L3 cache provides a structural advantage that the i3-4360's 2-core, 4-thread design with 4 MB of L3 cache cannot overcome. The i7's boost clock of 3.50 GHz helps it maintain competitive single-thread performance despite its lower 2.40 GHz base clock.

The Intel Core i3-4360 wins in the architectural comparison. Its 22 nm process node, Haswell architecture, and 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die represent a more modern design than the i7-2760QM's 32 nm Sandy Bridge with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3 also features Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics versus the i7's Intel HD 3000, and supports PCIe Gen 3. These advantages do not translate into benchmark wins, but they do indicate better power efficiency per transistor and newer feature support. The i3's 3.70 GHz fixed clock speed is its primary performance asset, yet it still falls 15% behind the i7 in single-core Cinebench R23.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras. The i3-4360 is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the i7-2760QM uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This generational gap manifests in die size: the i3 measures 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, whereas the i7 is larger at 216 mm² but packs fewer transistors at 1,160 million. The newer process node allows the i3 to achieve higher clock speeds at a modest 54 W TDP, though the i7 manages a lower 45 W TDP despite its older process.

Core and cache configurations differ substantially. The i3-4360 provides 2 physical cores with 4 threads, while the i7-2760QM doubles that to 4 cores and 8 threads. Both share the same per-core L1 cache at 64 KB and L2 cache at 256 KB, but the shared L3 cache favors the i7: 6 MB versus 4 MB. The i7 also features a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, a capability the i3 lacks entirely, running at a fixed 3.70 GHz.

Platform support diverges sharply. The i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part, while the i7-2760QM uses Intel BGA 1224 and is a mobile part. The i3 offers PCIe Gen 3 support; the i7's PCIe capability is not listed. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory, and neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3 includes Intel HD 4600, the i7 has Intel HD 3000. The i7's part number is SR02R, and it is marked as end-of-life, while the i3 has no production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-4360 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-2760QM leads by 15.1% in Cinebench R20 multicore (1525 vs 1294) and by 15.1% in Cinebench R23 multicore (3631 vs 3082). In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 leads by 15.3% (366 vs 310).

Q: Does the i3-4360 win in single-core tests due to its higher clock speed?

A: No. Despite the i3's 3.70 GHz base clock versus the i7's 2.40 GHz base (with 3.50 GHz boost), the i7-2760QM wins single-core tests by 15.3% in Cinebench R20 (215 vs 182) and 15.0% in Cinebench R23 (512 vs 435).

Q: Which processor has a larger cache?

A: The i7-2760QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 4 MB on the i3-4360. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Are these processors from the same generation?

A: No. The i3-4360 is from the Haswell generation on a 22 nm process. The i7-2760QM is from the Sandy Bridge generation on a 32 nm process.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i3-4360 includes Intel HD 4600, while the i7-2760QM includes Intel HD 3000, indicating a newer graphics solution on the i3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a uniform victory for the Intel Core i7-2760QM across all five tested scenarios. The narrowest margin is 15.0% in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7 scores 512 against the i3's 435. The widest margin is 15.3%, observed in three tests: Cinebench R15 multicore (366 vs 310), Cinebench R20 single-core (215 vs 182), and Cinebench R20 multicore (1525 vs 1294).

The multi-core results highlight the core-count advantage. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7's 4-core, 8-thread configuration produces 366 points, which is 56 points higher than the i3's 310. This 15.3% gap persists in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7 posts 1525 versus 1294, a difference of 231 points. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 549-point gap, with the i7 at 3631 and the i3 at 3082, translating to a 15.1% advantage.

Single-core results are particularly telling given the clock speed disparity. The i3-4360 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz, yet the i7-2760QM, which boosts to 3.50 GHz, still manages to win. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 215 versus 182, a 33-point gap. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 scores 512 versus 435, a 77-point gap. These results suggest the i7's newer boost behavior and superior architecture efficiency compensate for its lower clock ceiling.

The aggregate benchmark scores place both processors within a narrow band of each other: the i3-4360 averages 1061, while the i7-2760QM averages 1057. This 4-point difference is negligible. The nearest rivals for the i3-4360 include the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-4570TE at 1062 (-0.1%), and the AMD FX-8320E at 1059 (0.2%). The i7-2760QM's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium G4600 at 1056 (0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at 1058 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i3-4350 at 1058 (-0.1%). Both processors sit in a crowded performance tier, but the head-to-head data leaves no ambiguity about which is faster in direct competition.