Intel Core i3-7300 vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i3-7300 outperforms the Intel Core i7-2720QM across every recorded test. The Core i3-7300 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with no tests going in favor of the Core i7-2720QM. This is a decisive sweep, and the margins are nearly uniform, ranging from 11.3% to 11.4% in favor of the newer desktop chip.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Core i3-7300 scores 388 against 344 for the Core i7-2720QM, a delta of 11.3%. This is notable because the Core i7-2720QM has four physical cores and eight threads, double the core and thread count of the Core i3-7300, which has two cores and four threads. The fact that a dual-core processor beats a quad-core part in a multi-threaded workload indicates a substantial per-core performance advantage for the Kaby Lake architecture.

The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20. In the multi-core test, the Core i3-7300 records 1619 points, while the Core i7-2720QM manages 1435, a margin of 11.4%. In the single-core test, the Core i3-7300 scores 228 against 202, again an 11.4% advantage. This consistency across both single and multi-threaded tests suggests the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a general characteristic of the two processors' capabilities.

Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend. The Core i3-7300 scores 3856 in the multi-core test and 544 in the single-core test. The Core i7-2720QM scores 3417 and 482 respectively. Both deltas sit at 11.4%. The single-core scores are particularly telling, as the Core i3-7300's 4.00 GHz base clock (it has no boost clock) gives it a significant frequency advantage over the Core i7-2720QM's 2.20 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost clocks.

The overall benchmark averages align with the head-to-head results. The Core i7-2720QM has an average benchmark score of 1128, while the Core i3-7300 sits at 1115. Despite the Core i3-7300 winning every direct comparison, its average score is slightly lower. This is due to the different benchmark sets recorded for each processor in the database. The Core i7-2720QM includes Geekbench results in its average, while the Core i3-7300 does not have those specific scores recorded. The percentile rankings are close as well, with the Core i7-2720QM at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs and the Core i3-7300 at the 31st.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Core i3-7300 wins every category. There is no benchmark in which the Core i7-2720QM takes the lead. The Core i3-7300 is faster in multi-core rendering, which is surprising given its lower core count. It is also faster in single-core workloads, which is expected given its much higher clock speed and newer architecture.

The Core i3-7300's wins are consistent across all three versions of Cinebench (R15, R20, and R23) and in both single and multi-threaded tests. This makes it the preferred choice for any workload represented by these benchmarks, including 3D rendering, video encoding, and general processor-intensive tasks. The 11.4% advantage in Cinebench R20 single-core and 11.4% in R23 single-core demonstrate that the Kaby Lake chip has a clear edge in tasks that rely on single-thread performance.

The Core i7-2720QM does not win a single recorded test. Its strengths, such as having more cores and threads, do not translate into benchmark victories against the Core i3-7300. The data shows that the newer dual-core processor is simply faster in every measured scenario. However, the Core i7-2720QM does have a lower TDP at 45 watts compared to 51 watts for the Core i3-7300, which might be relevant in power-constrained environments, though this is not reflected in the benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The verdict from the data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-7300 is the superior processor in terms of raw performance across all recorded benchmarks. Anyone choosing between these two CPUs for performance-oriented tasks should select the Core i3-7300. It delivers over 11% higher scores in every Cinebench test, both single and multi-core, despite having half the cores and threads of its rival.

The Core i7-2720QM, despite its quad-core design, cannot overcome the architectural and clock speed advantages of the Core i3-7300. The Core i3-7300's 4.00 GHz base clock (with no boost clock listed) is far higher than the Core i7-2720QM's 2.20 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This frequency gap, combined with the newer 14 nm Kaby Lake architecture versus the older 32 nm Sandy Bridge design, explains the consistent performance lead.

There is one caveat worth noting: the Core i7-2720QM has a lower TDP of 45 watts versus 51 watts for the Core i3-7300. In a mobile or thermally constrained setting, the older chip might be easier to cool. However, the Core i7-2720QM is end-of-life and uses the Intel BGA 1224 socket, making it a legacy component. The Core i3-7300 is still active and uses the Intel Socket 1151. For pure performance, the data clearly favors the Core i3-7300.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300 is faster in single-core performance. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 228 points, an 11.4% advantage over the Intel Core i7-2720QM's 202 points. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i3-7300 scores 544 versus 482, also an 11.4% advantage.

Q: Does having more cores makes the Core i7-2720QM better in multi-core tests?

A: No, the data shows otherwise. The Core i7-2720QM has 4 cores, one more core than the Core i3-7300, but it does not win in multi-core tests. The Core i7-2720QM scores 1435 points in Cinebench R20, an 11.4% advantage for the Core i3-7300 multi-core score of 1619 points.

Q: What are the TDP values for these two processors, and which is lower?

A: The TDP for the Intel Core i7-2720QM is 45 watts, while the TDP for the Intel Core i3-7300 is 51 watts. The 45 watts for the Core i7-2720QM is lower than the 51 watts for the Core i3-7300.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2720QM has a larger L3 cache of 6 MB shared, while the Intel Core i3-7300 has a smaller L3 cache of 4 MB shared.

Q: Are there any Geekbench scores recorded for the Core i3-7300 in the head-to-head data?

A: No, there are no Geekbench scores for the Core i3-7300 in the head-to-head data. The head-to-head data lists Geekbench multicore and Geekbench scores for the i7-2720QM, but the i3-7300 does not have any Geekbench scores listed in the head-to-head data.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-2720QM and the Intel Core i3-7300 are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Core i7-2720QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, with a codename of Sandy Bridge and a process node of 32 nm. The Core i3-7300 uses the Kaby Lake architecture with a codename of Kaby Lake and a process node of 14 nm. The newer fabrication process node for the i3-7300 is smaller than the 32 nm process node for the i7-2720QM.

The Core i7-2720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, double the Core i3-7300's 2 cores and 4 threads. Each Core i7-2720QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Core i3-7300 also has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Core i7-2720QM has 6 MB of L3 cache shared, which is larger than the Core i3-7300's shared L3 cache of 4 MB shared.

The Core i7-2720QM's TDP is 45 watts, which is lower than the TDP of 51 watts for the Core i3-7300. The Core i7-2720QM is manufactured by Intel, as is the Core i3-7300, and the Core i7-2720QM is a mobile processor, while the Core i3-7300 is a desktop processor. The Core i7-2720QM has integrated graphics of Intel HD 3000, while the Core i3-7300 has integrated graphics of Intel HD 630.

The Core i7-2720QM uses the Intel BGA 1224 socket, while the Core i3-7300 uses the Intel Socket 1151. The Core i7-2720QM has a part number of SR00W. The Core i3-7300 has a part number of SR359. The Core i7-2720QM is in production as end-of-life, whereas the Core i3-7300 is in production as active.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The Core i7-2720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i3-7300 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Core i7-2720QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Core i3-7300 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and no boost clock listed.

The TDP for the Core i7-2720QM is 45 watts, while the TDP for the Core i3-7300 is 51 watts. The socket for the Core i7-2720QM is Intel BGA 1224, while the socket for the Core i3-7300 is Intel Socket 1151. The architecture for the Core i7-2720QM is Sandy Bridge, while the architecture for the Core i3-7300 is Kaby Lake.

The process node for the Core i7-2720QM is 32 nm, while the process node for the Core i3-7300 is 14 nm. The Core i7-2720QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i3-7300 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-2720QM has no memory support listed with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core i3-7300 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

The Core i3-7300 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while no PCIe information is listed for the Core i7-2720QM. The integrated graphics differ, with the Core i7-2720QM featuring Intel HD 3000 and the Core i3-7300 featuring Intel HD 630. The Core i7-2720QM is a mobile processor and end-of-life, while the Core i3-7300 is a desktop processor and active. The Core i7-2720QM has 1,160 million transistors and a die size of 216 mm², while the Core i3-7300 has no transistor count or die size listed. Both processors have a production status, but the i7-2720QM is end-of-life and the i3-7300 is active.