Intel Core i5-3335S vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-2820QM dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Intel Core i5-3335S takes the Geekbench tests. Out of seven recorded head-to-head comparisons, the i7-2820QM wins five, leaving the i5-3335S with two victories.

Starting with the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i7-2820QM scores 372 against the i5-3335S's 314. This represents an 18.5% advantage for the mobile chip. The same 18.5% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-2820QM records 1552 versus the i5-3335S's 1310. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23 multicore: the i7-2820QM hits 3697, while the i5-3335S manages 3121, again an 18.5% lead.

Single-core Cinebench results slightly widen the gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-2820QM scores 219, which is 19% higher than the i5-3335S's 184. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the i7-2820QM at 522 versus 440 for the i5-3335S, a delta of 18.6%. The i7-2820QM's Cinebench dominance is consistent, with a narrow range of 18.5% to 19% across all four tests.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-3335S scores 1647, slightly ahead of the i7-2820QM's 1623. That is a 1.5% margin, a modest but real advantage. The gap widens significantly in Geekbench single-core: the i5-3335S posts 562 versus the i7-2820QM's 517, giving the desktop chip an 8% lead.

The average benchmark scores from the database place these two close. The i7-2820QM records an average score of 1069, while the i5-3335S averages 1083. The i5-3335S sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, with the i7-2820QM just behind at the 29th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i7-2820QM include the Intel Processor N95 (delta of -0.1%), the AMD Opteron 3380 (-0.2%), and the AMD Athlon X4 880K (-0.2%). The i5-3335S matches the Intel Core i5-2320 exactly with a 0% delta, while sitting 0.1% ahead of the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T.

The story is about workload types. The i7-2820QM's hyper-threading likely contributes to its strong Cinebench results, while the i5-3335S's newer architecture and higher base clock appear to favor Geekbench's workload.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-2820QM wins in rendering and multi-threaded productivity. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all favor the mobile chip by 18.5%. For users running video encodes, 3D rendering, or batch image processing, the database shows a meaningful edge.

Intel Core i5-3335S wins in single-core Geekbench and overall Geekbench multicore. The 8% lead in Geekbench single-core suggests it has an advantage in lightly-threaded tasks like everyday desktop responsiveness, legacy application compatibility, and some productivity apps. The 1.5% lead in Geekbench multicore is smaller, but it shows the i5-3335S can hold its own in mixed workloads, despite fewer threads.

Use-case split. The i7-2820QM is better suited for threaded content creation, albeit as a mobile chip. The i5-3335S, being a desktop part, fits fixed workstations where its single-core strength and higher base clock matter more. The i7-2820QM has 8 threads versus the i5-3335S's 4 threads, which explains the Cinebench margin. The i5-3335S's newer Ivy Bridge microarchitecture explains its single-core efficiency lead.

A synthetic benchmark caveat. The Geekbench results are close, with a 1.5% multicore difference, while the Cinebench deltas are larger. This suggests the i5-3335S's architecture scales better with the Geekbench test pattern, while the i7-2820QM's extra threads give it a big edge in Cinebench's heavily parallel rendering workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has an average benchmark score of 1083, compared to 1069 for the Intel Core i7-2820QM. The i5-3335S also sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, one point ahead of the i7-2820QM's 29th percentile.

Q: How much faster is the i7-2820QM in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-2820QM scores 3697 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 18.5% higher than the i5-3335S's score of 3121.

Q: In which benchmark does the i5-3335S have its largest lead?

A: The i5-3335S's largest lead is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 562 compared to the i7-2820QM's 517, an 8% advantage.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each chip have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The i7-2820QM wins 5 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks. The i5-3335S wins 2 out of 7.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The i7-2820QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz, higher than the i7-2820QM's 2.30 GHz base clock. However, the i7-2820QM has a higher boost clock at 3.40 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for the i5-3335S.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-2820QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the i5-3335S uses the Intel Socket 1155. The i7-2820QM has a TDP of 45 watts, whereas the i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i7-2820QM has 8 threads versus the i5-3335S's 4 threads.

The base clock of the i5-3335S is 2.70 GHz, higher than the i7-2820QM's 2.30 GHz. The boost clock is the opposite: the i7-2820QM reaches 3.40 GHz, while the i5-3335S reaches 3.20 GHz. The i7-2820QM features 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3335S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

The i7-2820QM is a mobile processor, while the i5-3335S is a desktop processor. The i7-2820QM is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i5-3335S has no recorded production status. The i7-2820QM was released in January 2011, and the i5-3335S was released in October 2012. The i5-3335S has a part number, while the i7-2820QM has a part number of SR012 (the database does not list a part number for the i5-3335S).

The i5-3335S supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-2820QM has no memory support field recorded. Both have dual-channel memory buses. The i5-3335S has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-2820QM has no PCIe field. Neither chip is multiplier unlocked.

Architecture Differences

The architecture differences are substantial. The i7-2820QM is based on Sandy Bridge architecture, while the i5-3335S uses Ivy Bridge. The process nodes differ: the i7-2820QM uses a 32 nm process, while the i5-3335S uses a 22 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The transistor count differs significantly. The i7-2820QM has 1,160 million transistors, while the i5-3335S has 1,400 million transistors. The die sizes also differ: the i7-2820QM has a die size of 216 mm², while the i5-3335S has a smaller die at 160 mm².

The cache hierarchy is identical in L1 and L2 (64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively), but the L3 cache differs: 8 MB shared on the i7-2820QM versus 6 MB shared on the i5-3335S. This gives the mobile chip a larger shared pool for its 8 threads.

The integrated graphics differ. The i7-2820QM features Intel HD 3000, while the i5-3335S features Intel HD 4000. The i5-3335S's HD 4000 is the newer generation, which aligns with its later release date.

The i7-2820QM is a mobile processor with a 45-watt TDP, while the i5-3335S is a desktop part with a 65-watt TDP. The i5-3335S also supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-2820QM lacks a recorded memory support field. The i5-3335S has PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes, while the i7-2820QM has no recorded PCIe capability.

The core count is the same (4 cores each), but the thread count differs: 8 threads on the i7-2820QM versus 4 threads on the i5-3335S. This thread advantage, combined with the larger 8 MB L3 cache, explains the i7-2820QM's Cinebench dominance. The i5-3335S, with its smaller 22 nm process and newer Ivy Bridge core, achieves its single-core Geekbench success through architectural efficiency rather than raw thread count.