Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload type. The Intel Core i7-2820QM wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five comparisons. The i7-2820QM leads in both single-core and multi-core tests, which is unusual for a mobile processor facing a desktop part. Its advantage ranges from 19.9% to 20.3% depending on the test, meaning the performance gap is consistent rather than workload-specific.

The i3-2820QM's strongest showing comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 219 against 182 for the i3-4360, a 20.3% advantage. Multi-core results nearly match that pace: 1552 versus 1552 in R20 multicore is a 19.9% gap, and Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3697 against 1294 for the i3-4360, a 20% delta. Even in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i7-2820QM posts 372 versus 310, a 20% lead.

The i3-4360 does not win any of the five recorded comparisons. Its best relative performance appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where it trails by the smallest margin at 19.9%. The i3-4360's single-core results are consistently weaker: 435 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 522 for the i7-2820QM, and 182 in R20 single-core versus 219. The data shows no test where the desktop chip takes the lead, which suggests the i7-2820QM's four physical cores and eight threads outweigh the i3-4360's higher base clock in every measured scenario.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i7-2820QM is a Sandy Bridge mobile chip built on a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3-4360 is Haswell, a desktop part on a 22 nm node with 1,400 million transistors and a smaller 177 mm² die. The newer process node gives the i3-4360 a transistor density advantage despite its fewer cores.

Core configuration differs substantially. The i7-2820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4360 has 2 cores and 4 threads. That doubling of logical processors is the primary reason the mobile chip maintains a multi-core lead. Cache allocation also favors the i7-2820QM: it carries 8 MB of shared L3 cache against 4 MB on the i3-4360. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) configuration.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i3-4360 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz base clock with no boost capability listed, while the i7-2820QM starts at 2.30 GHz and boosts to 3.40 GHz. The i3-4360's higher sustained clock helps close the gap in single-threaded work, but the recorded benchmarks show the i7-2820QM still wins single-core tests by about 20%. The i7-2820QM's thermal envelope is lower at 45 W TDP versus 54 W for the i3-4360, which is notable given the mobile chip's additional cores and threads.

Socket and platform differ entirely. The i7-2820QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) for laptops, while the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktops. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-2820QM includes Intel HD 3000, and the i3-4360 includes Intel HD 4600. The i3-4360 supports DDR3 memory and PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-2820QM's memory support and PCIe generation are not listed in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-2820QM as the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. Its 20% lead across both single-core and multi-core tests is consistent, and it reaches the same 29th percentile among all CPUs as the i3-4360 despite being a mobile part from an older generation. The i7-2820QM's four cores and eight threads deliver a clear advantage in Cinebench workloads, which are representative of rendering and heavily threaded tasks.

The i3-4360 is not without merit. It runs at a significantly higher base clock of 3.70 GHz, which would normally benefit latency-sensitive single-threaded applications. Yet the recorded single-core benchmarks show the i7-2820QM ahead by 20% or more, meaning the i3-4360's clock advantage does not translate into a measured win. The i3-4360 also uses a newer 22 nm process and a smaller die, which could imply better efficiency per core, but the database does not record power efficiency metrics.

For a user choosing between these two, the i7-2820QM is the better performer in all measured categories. Its average benchmark score of 1069 sits slightly above the i3-4360's 1061, and its nearest rivals (the Intel Processor N95 at 1070, AMD Opteron 3380 at 1071, AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071, Intel Core i5-5287U at 1072) all cluster within a few points. The i3-4360's nearest rivals (AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061, Intel Core i5-4570TE at 1062, AMD FX-8320E at 1059, Intel Core i5-2380P at 1063) are similarly close. The i7-2820QM edges out the i3-4360 in average score by 8 points, a margin of less than 1%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM 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 i7-2820QM leads by 20% in Cinebench R15 multicore (372 versus 310), 19.9% in R20 multicore (1552 versus 1294), and 20% in R23 multicore (3697 versus 3082).

Q: Does the i3-4360 win any single-core benchmarks?

A: No. The i7-2820QM wins both recorded single-core tests: 219 versus 182 in Cinebench R20 single-core (20.3% lead) and 522 versus 435 in R23 single-core (20% lead).

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The i7-2820QM uses a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i3-4360 uses a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The i7-2820QM has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-4360 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i7-2820QM has an average benchmark score of 1069, and the i3-4360 has an average of 1061. Both sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the i7-2820QM wins all five recorded tests. The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-2820QM scores 219 against 182 for the i3-4360, a 20.3% advantage. That is the only test where the delta exceeds 20%. The remaining four tests all land at exactly 20% or 19.9%, showing remarkable consistency in the performance gap.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-2820QM posts 372 versus 310, a 20% win. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1552 against 1294, a 19.9% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore follows with 3697 versus 3082, a 20% lead. The single-core results are equally decisive: 522 versus 435 in R23 and 219 versus 182 in R20, both at 20% or higher.

Thei3-4360's best showing relative to the i7-2820QM is its Cinebench R20 multicore result, where it trails by the smallest margin at 19.9%. Even the i3-4360's highest raw score, 3082 in R23 multicore, falls short of the i7-2820QM's 3697, a difference of 615 points. The i7-2820QM's edge in single-core (522 in R23, 219 in R20) is the more surprising outcome, since the i3-4360's 3.70 GHz base clock would typically suggest a stronger single-threaded presence.

The average scores align with the head-to-head results. The i7-2820QM averages 1069, and the i3-4360 averages 1061. The i7-2820QM's nearest rival by average score is the Intel Processor N95 at 1070, which is only 0.1% behind, and the i3-4360's closest competitor is the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061, which matches its score exactly. This clustering reinforces that both chips are mid-pack performers, but the i7-2820QM holds a small overall average lead.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the i7-2820QM and i3-4360 are extensive, beginning with the core and thread counts. The i7-2820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads; the i3-4360 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks diverge sharply: the i7-2820QM runs at 2.30 GHz with a 3.40 GHz boost, while the i3-4360 runs at 3.70 GHz with no boost clock listed. TDP also differs, with the i7-2820QM at 45 W and the i3-4360 at 54 W.

Process technology separates the two generations. The i7-2820QM is built on 32 nm with 1,160 million transistors and a 216 mm² die. The i3-4360 uses 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die. The i3-4360's higher transistor count on a smaller die reflects its newer Haswell architecture. L3 cache differs by a factor of two: 8 MB shared on the i7-2820QM versus 4 MB shared on the i3-4360.

Socket and platform are entirely different. The i7-2820MQ uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) and targets the mobile market, while the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktops. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel HD 3000 on the i7-2820QM versus Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4360. The i3-4360 lists DDR3 memory support and PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-2820QM's memory support and PCIe generation are not recorded. The i3-4360 is listed with a release date of 2014-04-30, while the i7-2820QM released on 2011-01-02. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i7-2820QM has the part number SR012, while the i3-4360 has no part number listed.