Intel Core i5-3330S vs Intel Core i7-3612QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3612QM and Intel Core i5-3330S are both 22 nm Ivy Bridge parts, but they target different platforms—one is a 35 W mobile chip, the other a 77 W desktop chip. Despite the i5-3330S having higher base and boost clocks (2.70 GHz and 3.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz and 3.10 GHz), the benchmark data tells a more complex story. The i7-3612QM wins six of the seven head-to-head tests, with the i5-3330S taking only a single victory, making this a case where core count and thread count outweigh raw clock speed in most workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of the i7-3612QM’s multi-threaded advantage. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3612QM scores 397 against the i5-3330S’s 335, a margin of 18.5%. That lead expands slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where 1656 versus 1396 represents an 18.6% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore repeats the exact same 18.6% delta, with scores of 3944 and 3326. These three tests, spanning different generations of the Cinebench suite, all converge on the same conclusion: the i7-3612QM is roughly 18.5% to 18.6% faster in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

What is more surprising is that the i7-3612QM also wins the single-core Cinebench tests, despite its lower clock speeds. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-3612QM scores 233 versus 196 for the i5-3330S, a 18.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 556 versus 469, again an 18.6% delta. The i5-3330S’s higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz does not translate into a single-core win in these tests, suggesting that the i7-3612QM’s architecture or thermal behavior delivers better per-clock efficiency. This is a notable result because the i5-3330S’s 2.70 GHz base clock is also substantially higher, yet it cannot convert that into a Cinebench single-core victory.

The Geekbench results introduce a different dynamic. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-3612QM wins with 1691 versus 1625, but the margin shrinks to just 4.1%. This is much narrower than the 18.6% Cinebench gap, indicating that Geekbench’s workload mix does not scale with the i7-3612QM’s eight threads as effectively as Cinebench does. Meanwhile, in Geekbench single-core, the i5-3330S finally gets a win: 549 versus 501, a -8.7% delta in favor of the i5-3330S. This is the only head-to-head test where the i5-3330S comes out ahead, and it aligns with the clock speed difference—the i5-3330S boosts to 3.20 GHz versus 3.10 GHz for the i7-3612QM.

The overall win tally is 6 wins for the i7-3612QM and 1 win for the i5-3330S. However, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1129 for the i7-3612QM and 1128 for the i5-3330S, a delta of just 0.1%. This near-parity in average score masks the fact that the i7-3612QM wins by large margins in some tests and loses by a smaller margin in another. The i7-3612QM’s wins range from 4.1% to 18.9%, while the i5-3330S’s single win is 8.7%. The average score pulls them together because the i5-3330S’s Geekbench single-core win partially offsets the i7-3612QM’s larger Cinebench margins.

Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rival lists are nearly identical. The i7-3612QM’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4690T at 0% delta, the Intel Core i7-2720QM at 0.1%, and the Intel Core i3-4370 at -0.1%. The i5-3330S’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2720QM at 0% delta, the Intel Core i3-1115GRE at 0.1%, and the Intel Core i7-3612QM at -0.1%. This means the two CPUs are effectively interchangeable in terms of overall average performance, despite their different benchmark profiles.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split: the Intel Core i7-3612QM is the better choice for multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has a narrow edge in one specific single-thread test. The i7-3612QM’s 18.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore (3944 versus 3326) is substantial and consistent across three Cinebench versions. The i5-3330S’s Geekbench single-core win (549 versus 501, 8.7%) is real but isolated—it does not appear in any Cinebench single-core test, where the i7-3612QM actually leads by 18.6% to 18.9%.

Given that the i7-3612QM wins six of seven head-to-head tests, the overall recommendation from the data is straightforward: the i7-3612QM offers superior performance in most scenarios, particularly those that leverage its 8 threads versus the i5-3330S’s 4 threads. The i5-3330S is only preferable if the workload is dominated by Geekbench single-core tasks, which is a narrow use case. The 35 W TDP of the i7-3612QM versus the 77 W TDP of the i5-3330S also makes the i7-3612QM more power-efficient, though the i5-3330S’s higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz suggests it is designed for sustained desktop operation.

The near-identical average benchmark scores (1129 versus 1128) could mislead a casual observer into thinking these are equal performers. They are not. The distribution of wins shows the i7-3612QM’s advantages are larger and more frequent, while the i5-3330S’s single win is smaller in relative terms. For a user prioritizing rendering or other multi-threaded tasks, the i7-3612QM is the clear winner. For a user whose primary benchmark is Geekbench single-core, the i5-3330S is the better pick, but the margin is modest.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3612QM wins in all Cinebench tests—both multi-core and single-core—across R15, R20, and R23. This includes the largest margin of the entire comparison: an 18.9% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core (233 versus 196). It also wins Geekbench multicore, though by a smaller 4.1% margin (1691 versus 1625). The i7-3612QM’s wins are characterized by consistency and magnitude; its smallest victory is 4.1%, and its largest is 18.9%.

The Intel Core i5-3330S wins exactly one test: Geekbench single-core, with a score of 549 versus 501, an 8.7% margin. This is the only benchmark where the i5-3330S’s higher clock speeds (2.70 GHz base, 3.20 GHz boost) translate into a performance advantage. The i5-3330S loses every Cinebench test by roughly 18.5% to 18.9%, which suggests that Cinebench’s workload is more sensitive to the i7-3612QM’s 8 threads and possibly its larger die size or cache behavior. The i5-3330S’s Geekbench single-core win is notable but does not compensate for the breadth of the i7-3612QM’s victories.

In practical terms, the i7-3612QM is the winner for video rendering, 3D modeling, or any workload that scales with thread count. The i5-3330S is the winner for legacy single-threaded applications that resemble Geekbench’s single-core test, though even there, the i7-3612QM’s Cinebench single-core results contradict a simple clock-speed-based prediction. The data suggests the i7-3612QM is the more versatile processor, with the i5-3330S holding a niche advantage in one specific test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM has an average benchmark score of 1129, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has 1128, a difference of 0.1% in favor of the i7-3612QM.

Q: How much faster is the i7-3612QM in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-3612QM scores 3944 versus 3326 for the i5-3330S, which is an 18.6% advantage for the i7-3612QM.

Q: Does the i5-3330S win any benchmark against the i7-3612QM?

A: Yes, the i5-3330S wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 549 versus 501, an 8.7% margin. This is its only win in the seven head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has a TDP of 77 W.

Q: How do their thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are within 0.1% of each other.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 22 nm process node and use the Ivy Bridge architecture, but they differ in several key architectural details. The i7-3612QM has a die size of 160 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors, while the i5-3330S has a smaller die size of 133 mm² and no transistor count is listed. The i7-3612QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), indicating a mobile platform, whereas the i5-3330S uses Intel Socket 1155 for desktop systems. The i7-3612QM’s socket is likely designed for laptops, while the i5-3330S’s socket is a standard desktop interface.

The two CPUs have identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics differ: the i7-3612QM has Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3330S has Intel HD 2500. The i5-3330S supports DDR3 memory and has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3612QM’s memory support and PCIe details are not listed.

The most significant architectural difference is the thread count: the i7-3612QM supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3330S is limited to 4 threads. This explains the i7-3612QM’s large multi-threaded advantages in Cinebench tests, where the extra threads are fully utilized. The i5-3330S’s higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz versus 3.10 GHz give it a clock-speed advantage, but the i7-3612QM’s architectural features appear to compensate in most benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several specification fields. The i7-3612QM has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the i5-3330S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz. The boost clocks are closer: 3.10 GHz for the i7-3612QM versus 3.20 GHz for the i5-3330S. The TDP is a major difference, with the i7-3612QM at 35 W and the i5-3330S at 77 W. The sockets are different: Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i7-3612QM and Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3330S.

The market segments differ—the i7-3612QM is a Mobile processor, while the i5-3330S is a Desktop processor. The integrated graphics are different: Intel HD 4000 for the i7-3612QM and Intel HD 2500 for the i5-3330S. The i5-3330S lists DDR3 memory support and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3612QM does not list these fields. The part numbers are SR0MQ for the i7-3612QM and SR0RR for the i5-3330S.