Intel Core i3-4370 vs Intel Core i7-3612QE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided in this comparison. Across five recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i7-3612QE wins all five, with no victories recorded for the Intel Core i3-3612QE's rival, the Intel Core i3-4370. The margin is consistent across every workload type, hovering near 21% in each case.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3612QE scores 399 against the i3-4370's 330, a 20.9% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-3612QE posts 1666 versus 1379, a 20.8% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 multicore: 3967 for the i7-3612QE, 3284 for the i3-4370, again 20.8% apart.

Single-core results tell the same story, which is notable given the i3-4370's significantly higher base clock. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-3612QE scores 235, the i3-4370 scores 194, a 21.1% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 560 against 463, a 21% gap. The consistency of these deltas, all between 20.8% and 21.1%, suggests a structural performance advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

The average benchmark scores from the database reflect the overall picture. The i7-3612QE averages 1147 across its tested suite, while the i3-4370 averages 1130. That 17-point difference places the i7-3612QE at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, slightly above the i3-4370's 32nd percentile.

The nearest rival data reinforces the context. The i7-3612QE sits within 0.3% of the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146), the Intel Core i7-2600S (1146), and the AMD Opteron 4332 HE (1144), while trailing the Intel Core i5-4430 (1149) by 0.2%. The i3-4370 finds itself level with the Intel Pentium Gold G5500 (1130), 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-4690T (1129), and effectively tied with the Intel Core i7-3612QM (1129), while trailing the Intel Core i3-10110U (1131) by 0.1%. The i7-3612QE's closest competition is the i5-4430, a desktop quad-core, while the i3-4370's nearest rivals include its own mobile counterpart, the i7-3612QM, which is essentially the same silicon as the i7-3612QE with a different part number.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-3612QE is an Ivy Bridge part built for mobile systems, released in April 2012. The Intel Core i3-4370 is a Haswell desktop processor, released in July 2014. Both use Intel's 22 nm process node and integrate 1,400 million transistors, but the die sizes differ: the i7-3612QE measures 160 mm², while the i3-4370 is larger at 177 mm².

Core configuration is the primary architectural split. The i7-3612QE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4370 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both support simultaneous multithreading, but the i7-3612QE doubles the physical core count. The i7-3612QE runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock with a 3.10 GHz boost clock, whereas the i3-4370 has no boost capability and operates at a fixed 3.80 GHz.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both chips provide 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache, however, favors the i7-3612QE: 6 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the i3-4370. The i3-4370 lists DDR3 memory support and Gen 3 PCIe, while the i7-3612QE's memory support field is not recorded in the database; both use dual-channel memory buses. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differentiate the two as well. The i7-3612QE carries Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i3-4370 includes the newer Intel HD 4600. The i3-4370 is the only one of the two with a recorded memory support type (DDR3) and PCIe generation (Gen 3). Sockets are incompatible: the i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023, a mobile package, while the i3-4370 uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktop builds.

Power characteristics also vary. The i7-3612QE is rated at 35 W TDP, a low figure for a quad-core with 8 threads, reflecting its mobile design. The i3-4370 draws 54 W TDP, higher despite having half the cores, because it runs at a much higher clock speed and is designed for desktop cooling. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QE wins all 5 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-4370 wins none.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore workloads?

A: The i7-3612QE leads by 20.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore (399 vs 330), 20.8% in Cinebench R20 multicore (1666 vs 1379), and 20.8% in Cinebench R23 multicore (3967 vs 3284).

Q: Does the i3-4370's higher clock speed help it in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite running at 3.80 GHz with no boost versus the i7-3612QE's 2.10 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, the i3-4370 loses single-core tests by 21.1% in Cinebench R20 (194 vs 235) and 21% in Cinebench R23 (463 vs 560).

Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i7-3612QE averages 1147, while the i3-4370 averages 1130. The i7-3612QE sits at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, the i3-4370 at the 32nd.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: The i7-3612QE's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-4430, which scores 1149 and leads by 0.2%. The i3-4370's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5500, which matches its 1130 score exactly.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the i7-3612QE and the i3-4370 have ECC memory support marked false.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Field | Intel Core i7-3612QE | Intel Core i3-4370 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.10 GHz | None |

| TDP | 35 W | 54 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1023 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i3 (Haswell) |

| Die size | 160 mm² | 177 mm² |

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

| Memory support | Not recorded | DDR3 |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3 |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2012-04-28 | 2014-07-20 |

| Part number | SR0ND | Not recorded |

Fields that match include the 22 nm process node, Intel as both manufacturer and foundry, 1,400 million transistors, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support (false for both), and locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner in the Intel Core i7-3612QE. It wins every recorded benchmark, and the margins are substantial and consistent: 20.8% to 21.1% across all five tests. The i7-3612QE also carries more cores, more threads, more L3 cache, and a lower TDP. The i3-4370's only advantages in the recorded specifications are its higher base clock (3.80 GHz versus 2.10 GHz), newer integrated graphics (HD 4600 versus HD 4000), and desktop-oriented features like DDR3 memory support and Gen 3 PCIe, but none of those translate into benchmark wins.

The i7-3612QE is the better performer in every measured workload. The i3-4370 is not without merit in specific contexts, but on pure benchmark results, the i7-3612QE dominates. The 33rd versus 32nd percentile rankings show both chips sit in similar overall standing among all CPUs, but within this direct comparison, the i7-3612QE is decisively ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3612QE wins in all recorded benchmark categories: Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. Its multicore strength comes from having double the cores and threads (4/8 versus 2/4), while its single-core strength, despite a lower clock speed, indicates architectural efficiency or boost behavior that the raw clock numbers do not capture. The i7-3612QE also wins in power efficiency, with a 35 W TDP versus 54 W, and in cache capacity, with 6 MB of shared L3 versus 4 MB. Its mobile socket and smaller die size (160 mm² versus 177 mm²) make it the more compact option.

The Intel Core i3-4370 wins in no benchmark tests. Its recorded advantages are limited to specification fields: higher base clock (3.80 GHz), newer Haswell architecture, larger die size, newer Intel HD 4600 graphics, DDR3 memory support, Gen 3 PCIe, and a desktop market segment. For a user prioritizing those specific platform features, particularly the newer graphics core or PCIe generation, the i3-4370 would be the choice. For anyone selecting on recorded performance data, the i7-3612QE is the only option with any wins, and it holds all of them.