Intel Core i5-3350P vs Intel Core i7-2670QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2670QM and the Intel Core i5-3350P represent two distinct philosophies from Intel’s early 2010s lineup: the former is a mobile flagship with hyper-threading, while the latter is a desktop part stripped of integrated graphics. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear pattern, with the i5-3350P winning every recorded head-to-head test, but the margins vary significantly depending on the workload. This analysis explores what those numbers mean, where the i7’s extra threads matter, and why the i5’s newer architecture gives it an edge despite fewer threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the consistency of the i5-3350P’s victories. Across all seven recorded benchmarks, the i5-3350P wins, but the size of the margin tells two different stories. In Cinebench tests, the i5-3350P leads by a nearly uniform margin: 13.7% in the R15 multicore test (371 vs 320), 13.7% in R20 multicore (1546 vs 1334), and 13.7% in R23 multicore (3681 vs 3177). The single-core results are similarly close: 13.4% in R20 single-core (217 vs 188) and 13.7% in R23 single-core (519 vs 448). This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results show a tighter race. In the multicore test, the i5-3350P scores 1730 against the i7-2670QM’s 1646, a margin of only 4.9%. The single-core Geekbench test shows a 4.8% gap (584 vs 556). This is notable because Geekbench’s older version tends to be less sensitive to memory bandwidth and more forgiving of older cores. The i7’s hyper-threading likely helps it close the gap in Geekbench’s multicore test, where the i5’s four physical cores have no extra threads to call upon.

The data reveals a clear split: Cinebench’s rendering workloads amplify the i5’s lead, while Geekbench’s mixed tasks shrink it. The i7-2670QM’s best showing is in Geekbench multicore, where it trails by less than 5%, but it never manages to win a single test. The i5-3350P’s 100% win rate, combined with margins from 4.8% to 13.7%, indicates a consistent performance advantage that grows under sustained multi-core load.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and target different markets. The i7-2670QM is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and is classified as a mobile part. The i5-3350P is based on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process, with a much smaller 133 mm² die (transistor count not recorded in the database). It uses the Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part. This generational gap is likely the primary driver of the i5’s performance lead: Ivy Bridge’s 22 nm process allows for higher clock speeds at similar power envelopes, and the smaller die suggests a more efficient design.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The i7-2670QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i5-3350P operates at 3.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This is a significant raw clock advantage for the i5, especially in single-threaded tasks where the boost clock matters most. The i7’s hyper-threading gives it 8 threads versus the i5’s 4, which theoretically should help in heavily threaded workloads. But the data shows the i5 still wins multicore tests by 13.7%, meaning the clock speed and architectural improvements more than compensate for the missing threads.

Cache configurations are identical on paper: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. However, the i5’s Ivy Bridge architecture likely has lower latency and better prefetching behavior, which would explain its consistent edge in both single-core and multi-core tests. The i7’s Sandy Bridge design, despite having more threads, cannot overcome the i5’s newer memory subsystem and higher clocks.

Another critical difference is integrated graphics. The i7-2670QM includes Intel HD 3000, while the i5-3350P has no integrated graphics at all. This is a major market segmentation choice: the i7 is designed for laptops where a discrete GPU might not always be present, while the i5-3350P is meant for desktops with dedicated graphics cards. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a feature absent from the i7’s specifications. This gives the i5 a potential advantage in GPU-heavy systems, though the benchmark data does not directly test this.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the i5-3350P outperforms the i7-2670QM in every recorded test. The i5 wins by 13.7% in all Cinebench multicore and single-core tests, and by 4.8-4.9% in Geekbench. The i5’s higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base vs 2.20 GHz) and newer Ivy Bridge architecture are the most plausible explanations, as the i7’s hyper-threading does not compensate in any test.

For users choosing between these two, the i5-3350P is the clear performance pick. Its desktop socket (1155) and lack of integrated graphics suggest it is intended for systems with a discrete GPU, where its PCIe Gen 3 support and superior benchmark scores make it the better choice. The i7-2670QM’s only advantages are its mobile form factor and integrated graphics, which are not captured in the benchmark scores.

The i7-2670QM’s percentile ranking of 31 versus the i5-3350P’s 30 is essentially a tie, despite the i5’s higher benchmark scores. This is because the i7 competes in the mobile space where its performance class is less crowded, while the i5 faces more desktop rivals. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the i7 averages 1096, the i5 averages 1088, a negligible 0.7% difference. This is a strange paradox: the i5 wins every head-to-head test, yet its average score is slightly lower. This likely reflects different test suites or normalization methods in the database, but the head-to-head data remains the most direct comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications according to the database:

• Threads: The i7-2670QM has 8 threads (4 cores with hyper-threading), while the i5-3350P has 4 threads (4 cores, no hyper-threading).
• Base Clock: 2.20 GHz on the i7 versus 3.10 GHz on the i5.
• Boost Clock: 3.10 GHz on the i7 versus 3.30 GHz on the i5.
• TDP: The i7 is rated at 45 W, the i5 at 69 W. This reflects the mobile versus desktop design targets.
• Socket: Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i7, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5.
• Architecture: Sandy Bridge (32 nm) for the i7, Ivy Bridge (22 nm) for the i5.
• Die Size: 216 mm² for the i7, 133 mm² for the i5.
• Transistors: 1,160 million for the i7, not recorded for the i5.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 3000 on the i7, none on the i5.
• PCIe: The i5 supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7’s PCIe support is not recorded.
• Memory Support: The i5 specifies DDR3, while the i7’s memory support is not listed.
• Release Date: The i7 was released in October 2011, the i5 in September 2012.
• Part Number: SR02N for the i7, SR0WS for the i5.

Notably, the cache configuration is identical (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3), and both have dual-channel memory buses. Neither has ECC support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The production status of the i5 is not recorded, while the i7 is marked as end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2670QM has 8 threads (4 cores with hyper-threading), while the Intel Core i5-3350P has 4 threads (4 cores without hyper-threading).

Q: How much faster is the i5-3350P in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-3350P scores 3681 versus the i7-2670QM’s 3177, a 13.7% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest margins are in Cinebench tests, where the i5-3350P leads by 13.7% in R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, and by 13.4-13.7% in single-core tests. The smallest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5 leads by 4.8%.

Q: Does the i7-2670QM have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i7-2670QM includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. The i5-3350P has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i5-3350P has a base clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i7-2670QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz.

Q: What are the process nodes for these processors?

A: The i7-2670QM is built on a 32 nm process (Sandy Bridge), while the i5-3350P uses a 22 nm process (Ivy Bridge).

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3350P wins all seven recorded benchmarks, making it the outright performance leader in this comparison. Its victories are most pronounced in Cinebench tests, where it leads by 13.7% across the board. This suggests it is particularly strong in rendering and other heavily multi-threaded workloads, despite having fewer threads. The i5’s higher clock speeds and newer Ivy Bridge architecture appear to be decisive.

The i7-2670QM’s strengths are not visible in the benchmark scores. Its 8 threads and integrated graphics make it suitable for laptops where a discrete GPU is unavailable, and its lower TDP (45 W vs 69 W) is better suited to mobile thermal constraints. The i7 also has a smaller performance deficit in Geekbench (4.8-4.9%), indicating that in some mixed workloads, the hyper-threading helps close the gap.

For a desktop user with a discrete graphics card, the i5-3350P is the obvious choice based on the data. Its PCIe Gen 3 support and superior benchmark scores make it the better performer in CPU-bound tasks. For a mobile user who needs integrated graphics and can accept lower performance, the i7-2670QM is the only option, as the i5-3350P is a desktop part with no iGPU. The i7’s 8 threads might also be preferable for specific workloads that scale well with threads, but the recorded data does not show any test where this translates into a win.