Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i7-3720QM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is unusually stark, and it tells a clear story about what each chip was designed to do. The Intel Core i3-7350K takes the Geekbench tests, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM dominates every Cinebench test in the database. That is not a random pattern; it reflects the fundamental architectural priorities of each part.

The i3-7350K wins both Geekbench tests, and it wins them decisively. In the single-core Geekbench test, it scores 1488 against the i7-3720QM's 726, a 105% advantage. That is more than double the score, and it is the single largest margin in the entire head-to-head comparison. The multi-core Geekbench result is also in the i3's favor, with a score of 3018 versus 2457, a 22.8% lead. These are the numbers that point to a desktop part built for raw per-thread responsiveness.

The i7-3720QM answers back across every Cinebench iteration in the database. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 475 against the i3's 417, a 12.2% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 66 versus 58, also a 12.1% edge for the i7. The pattern continues through R20 and R23, where the i7 maintains a consistent 12.2% advantage in both single-core and multi-core runs. The i7's wins are not narrow; they are uniform across the entire Cinebench suite.

This creates a use-case split that is easy to follow. The i3-7350K is the better choice for workloads that resemble Geekbench's methodology, which tends to emphasize modern instruction efficiency and higher clock speeds per thread. The i7-3720QM is the better choice for rendering and 3D workloads, as represented by Cinebench, where its additional cores and threads provide a measurable throughput advantage. The data does not show a single all-around winner; it shows two chips that are optimized for different kinds of tasks.

The Verdict

The verdict, strictly from the recorded data, is that the Intel Core i7-3720QM is the stronger processor in the majority of tests, winning 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks. Its Cinebench victories are consistent and repeatable across three different software versions, and the margin is steady at roughly 12% in each case. For anyone whose primary workload is CPU rendering, ray tracing, or other multi-threaded content creation tasks, the i7-3720QM is the clear choice based on these results.

The Intel Core i3-7350K, however, is not without its own claim. It wins the Geekbench tests, and the single-core margin is enormous at 105%. This suggests that for applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, such as older games, certain legacy software, or lightly threaded productivity apps, the i3-7350K could deliver a noticeably snappier experience. The Geekbench multi-core win at 22.8% also shows that the i3 is not purely a single-core specialist; it can hold its own in some multi-threaded synthetic workloads.

The overall average benchmark score tells a more nuanced story. The i3-7350K has an average score of 1462 across all its recorded benchmarks, while the i7-3720QM sits at 1421. That puts the i3 about 2.9% ahead in aggregate, despite losing the majority of individual tests. This is because the i3's Geekbench wins are so large that they lift its average above the i7's more consistent but smaller Cinebench margins. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the i3 at the 38th percentile and the i7 at the 37th percentile, meaning both sit in the same performance tier relative to all CPUs in the database.

Who should pick which? The data points toward the i7-3720QM for users who prioritize rendering and sustained multi-threaded workloads, as every Cinebench test in the database favors it. The i3-7350K is the better pick for users who value single-threaded speed and Geekbench-style synthetic performance, particularly if the software in question does not scale well across many cores. The two chips serve different masters, and the benchmark results make that division explicit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are clean and unambiguous. Let us walk through the biggest wins for each side, starting with the i7-3720QM's most consistent victories.

The i7-3720QM leads the i3-7350K by 12.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 475 against 417. The same delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 scores 1981 against 1740. It repeats again in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with the i7 at 4718 and the i3 at 4144. The consistency of that 12.2% margin across three different versions of the same benchmark is striking. It suggests a stable performance advantage that is baked into the hardware, not an artifact of a single test run.

The single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story with slightly different margins. In R15 single-core, the i7 scores 66 against the i3's 58, a 12.1% lead. In R20 single-core, the i7 scores 279 against 245, again a 12.2% margin. In R23 single-core, the i7 scores 666 against 585, once more a 12.2% lead. This is remarkable: the i7 wins single-core Cinebench tests despite having a lower base clock (2.60 GHz versus 4.20 GHz) and a lower boost clock (3.60 GHz versus no boost clock at all). The data indicates that the i7's older Ivy Bridge architecture still delivers competitive per-thread performance in this specific benchmark suite.

Now the i3-7350K's wins. The Geekbench multi-core test shows the i3 at 3018 against the i7's 2457, a 22.8% lead. This is a substantial margin and it flips the expected outcome, given that the i7 has four cores and eight threads while the i3 has only two cores and four threads. The Geekbench single-core test is the real outlier: the i3 scores 1488 against 726, a 105% advantage. This is not a marginal difference; it is a doubling of performance. The i3's 4.20 GHz base clock, combined with its newer Kaby Lake architecture, appears to give it an overwhelming advantage in this particular single-threaded workload.

The overall win count is 6 for the i7 and 2 for the i3. But the magnitude of the i3's wins is worth noting. A 105% single-core win is far larger than any of the i7's 12% margins. In a weighted analysis, the i3's two victories carry disproportionate weight, which is why its average benchmark score is higher despite losing more tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in total?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-7350K wins 2.

Q: What is the biggest single-test margin in the comparison?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i3-7350K scores 1488 against the i7-3720QM's 726, a 105% lead.

Q: Does the i7-3720QM win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, it wins every Cinebench single-core test in the database, including R15 (66 versus 58), R20 (279 versus 245), and R23 (666 versus 585), each with a margin around 12%.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K has an average benchmark score of 1462, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has an average of 1421. The i3 is slightly ahead in this aggregate measure.

Q: Which processor has the higher percentile ranking?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM sits at the 37th percentile. The difference is minimal.

Q: Are the Cinebench margins consistent across versions?

A: Yes, the i7-3720QM leads by 12.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core, and by 12.1% to 12.2% in the single-core versions of the same tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is significant, and it explains much of the observed benchmark behavior. The Intel Core i3-7350K is built on Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node. This is a full process generation apart, which typically means the newer chip has higher transistor density and better power efficiency per unit of work.

The core counts differ substantially. The i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. That doubling of physical cores and threads is the most likely explanation for the i7's consistent Cinebench multi-core wins. Rendering workloads like Cinebench are known to scale well with additional cores, and the data supports that: the i7 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests by 12.2%.

Cache configurations also differ. The i7-3720QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7350K has 4 MB. Both chips share the same L1 cache size of 64 KB per core and the same L2 cache size of 256 KB per core. The larger L3 cache on the i7 may contribute to its multi-threaded performance, but the data does not isolate this factor from the core count difference.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i3-7350K includes Intel HD 630, while the i7-3720QM includes Intel HD 4000. This is a generational leap in integrated graphics capability, though neither chip is likely to be chosen primarily for its GPU performance. The i3 also supports DDR4 memory, while the i7's memory support is not specified in the database.

The i7-3720QM has a transistor count of 1,400 million and a die size of 160 mm², while the i3-7350K has no recorded transistor count or die size. The i7's larger die is consistent with its four-core design on an older process node. The i3-7350K has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it supports overclocking, while the i7-3720QM does not. This is a notable feature difference for users who intend to push clock speeds beyond stock settings.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear divergences between the two chips. The Intel Core i3-7350K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and no boost clock, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i3's base clock is 1.60 GHz higher, which likely contributes to its dominant Geekbench single-core win. The i7's boost clock allows it to reach 3.60 GHz under load, but that is still 0.60 GHz below the i3's constant base clock.

Thermal design power differs as well. The i3-7350K has a TDP of 60 watts, while the i7-3720QM has a TDP of 45 watts. This is notable because the i7 has twice as many cores and threads, yet draws less power according to the TDP figures. The i7 is a mobile processor, which explains its lower power envelope, while the i3 is a desktop part.

The sockets are incompatible. The i3-7350K uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-3720QM uses Intel BGA 1224. This means they cannot be swapped into the same motherboard, and any upgrade path between them would require a platform change. The i3 has 16 PCIe lanes (Gen 3, CPU only), while the i7's PCIe configuration is not specified in the database.

Memory support differs: the i3-7350K supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-3720QM has no memory type or bandwidth specified. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3's DDR4 support is a generational advantage, though the i7's lack of a recorded memory type means the database does not confirm what it supports.

The release dates are far apart. The i3-7350K was released on 2017-01-02, while the i7-3720QM was released on 2012-04-28. That is a gap of several years, and it shows in the architectural and process node differences. The i3 is marked as Active in production status, while the i7 has no recorded production status. The i3 also has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7's multiplier is locked. The part numbers differ as well: SR35B for the i3 and SR0MM for the i7.