Intel Core i5-3335S vs Intel Core i7-2670QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-2670QM wins five of the seven head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-3335S takes two victories. However, the margins are surprisingly narrow across the board, suggesting these chips are far closer in real-world performance than their generational differences might imply.

The i7-2670QM's strongest showing comes in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, where it scores 320 against the i5-3335S's 314, a delta of 1.9 percent. This pattern repeats across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-2670QM posts 1334 versus 1310, a 1.8 percent advantage. The R23 multicore test shows a similar story: 3177 for the i7-2670QM against 3121 for the i5-3335S, again a 1.8 percent gap. Single-core results follow the same trend, with the i7-2670QM leading by 2.1 percent in Cinebench R20 single-core (188 versus 184) and by 1.8 percent in R23 single-core (448 versus 440).

The i5-3335S does manage to flip the script in the Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, it edges out the i7-2670QM by a razor-thin margin: 1647 versus 1646, a 0.1 percent difference. The single-core Geekbench result is more decisive for the i5-3335S, with a score of 562 against 556, a 1.1 percent lead. These wins, while small, indicate that in certain workloads the newer Ivy Bridge architecture can overcome the i7-2670QM's extra threads.

Looking at the broader database context, the i5-3335S sits at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, while the i7-2670QM occupies the 31st percentile. Their average benchmark scores reflect this proximity: 1083 for the i5-3335S and 1096 for the i7-2670QM. The nearest rivals for the i5-3335S include the Intel Core i5-2320 at an identical average score of 1083, the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T at 1082 (0.1 percent behind), and the AMD A12-9800 at 1081 (0.2 percent behind). The i7-2670QM's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-2710QE at a matching 1096, with the Intel Core i5-3470S close behind at 1095.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, yet the performance data suggests it matters less than one might expect. The i5-3335S is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process from Intel, while the i7-2670QM uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. This process advantage gives the i5-3335S a smaller die size of 160 mm² compared to the i7-2670QM's 216 mm², despite the i5-3335S packing more transistors at 1,480 million versus 1,160 million.

Both processors feature four physical cores, but the threading differs significantly. The i5-3335S has four threads total, matching its core count, while the i7-2670QM supports eight threads through Hyper-Threading. This explains the i7-2670QM's consistent wins in multicore Cinebench tests, where additional threads can be leveraged. However, the i5-3335S counters with higher clock speeds: a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz, compared to the i7-2670QM's 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. These clocks help explain why the i5-3335S manages to win the Geekbench single-core test despite its thread disadvantage.

Cache configurations are identical: both offer 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory bus is dual-channel DDR3 for both, with no ECC support on either chip. Integrated graphics differ, with the i5-3335S featuring Intel HD 4000 while the i7-2670QM has Intel HD 3000, though the benchmark data does not quantify this difference.

The platform context also differs. The i5-3335S targets desktops with an Intel Socket 1155 interface and PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-2670QM is a mobile processor on Intel Socket G2 (988B), and its PCIe configuration is not recorded in the database. The i7-2670QM is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3335S has no such status listed. Power consumption favors the mobile chip at 45 W TDP versus 65 W for the desktop part, though the i5-3335S's higher TDP aligns with its higher base clock.

The Verdict

The data points to a narrow overall victory for the i7-2670QM, but the context matters. The i7-2670QM's five wins in head-to-head benchmarks are consistent, yet every margin is under 2.2 percent. The i5-3335S's two wins, while smaller in count, show that the newer architecture can match or slightly exceed the older chip in specific workloads, particularly in Geekbench tests.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the i7-2670QM holds a measurable, if modest, edge. The extra threads from Hyper-Threading appear to provide a real benefit in these multithreaded tests. However, the i5-3335S's higher clock speeds help it close the gap in single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks, as evidenced by its Geekbench victories.

The 30th and 31st percentiles place both processors in the lower-middle range of the database's CPU population. Neither chip is a standout performer in absolute terms, but their near-identical average scores (1083 versus 1096) suggest they occupy a similar performance tier. The i7-2670QM's slightly higher average score and percentile reflect its benchmark wins, but the difference is minimal.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-3335S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process, while the i7-2670QM uses Sandy Bridge on 32 nm. Transistor counts and die sizes reflect this: 1,480 million transistors on 160 mm² for the i5-3335S, versus 1,160 million on 216 mm² for the i7-2670QM.

Clock speeds favor the i5-3335S with a 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost, compared to the i7-2670QM's 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The thread count differs as well, with the i5-3335S offering four threads and the i7-2670QM offering eight. TDP values are 65 W for the i5-3335S and 45 W for the i7-2670QM.

Socket compatibility diverges completely: Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3335S versus Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i7-2670QM. The i5-3335S lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-2670QM has no recorded PCIe information. Integrated graphics differ, with HD 4000 on the i5-3335S and HD 3000 on the i7-2670QM. The market segments are desktop versus mobile, and the i7-2670QM carries an end-of-life production status while the i5-3335S does not. The i7-2670QM has a recorded part number (SR02N), while the i5-3335S does not. Release dates differ by roughly a year, with the i7-2670QM launching in October 2011 and the i5-3335S in October 2012.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: Both processors have four physical cores. The i5-3335S has four threads total, while the i7-2670QM has eight threads.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3335S in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i5-3335S scores 562 versus 556 for the i7-2670QM, a 1.1 percent advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 W, while the i7-2670QM has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: Both processors share the same 6 MB of L3 cache, so there is no difference.

Q: Does the i7-2670QM support more memory channels?

A: No, both processors use a dual-channel memory bus and support DDR3 memory.

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

A: The i5-3335S has an average benchmark score of 1083, while the i7-2670QM scores 1096.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2670QM is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads, taking all four multicore and single-core Cinebench tests that were recorded. Its 1.8 to 2.1 percent margins across these tests suggest that the extra threads provide a consistent advantage in rendering tasks. Users running Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 will see slightly better results with the i7-2670QM, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multithreaded.

The i5-3335S wins in Geekbench tests, both multicore and single-core. The single-core victory of 1.1 percent is the largest margin recorded for either processor in any test, indicating that the Ivy Bridge architecture's efficiency improvements and higher clock speeds deliver tangible benefits in this benchmark. The multicore win, while tiny at 0.1 percent, still demonstrates that the i5-3335S can hold its own against a Hyper-Threaded competitor in certain workloads.

For mobile users, the i7-2670QM offers a lower TDP of 45 W, which may be advantageous in laptops where thermal and power constraints are tighter. Desktop users get the i5-3335S with a higher 65 W TDP but also a newer platform with PCIe Gen 3 support. The i5-3335S also benefits from a newer integrated graphics solution, the Intel HD 4000, though benchmark data does not quantify this advantage.

The i7-2670QM's end-of-life status suggests it is no longer in active production, while the i5-3335S has no such designation. For new system builds, the i5-3335S may be more readily available, though the database does not provide current availability data. Ultimately, the choice comes down to workload priorities: Cinebench-heavy users should lean toward the i7-2670QM, while Geekbench-sensitive tasks favor the i5-3335S. The performance differences are small enough that other factors, such as platform compatibility and power constraints, may be the deciding variables.