Intel Core i5-3450 vs Intel Core i7-3635QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3635QM and Intel Core i5-3450 are both 22nm Ivy Bridge parts from 2012, but they target completely different platforms: one is a mobile chip for laptops, the other a desktop chip for towers. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split—the i7-3635QM dominates every Cinebench test, while the i5-3450 wins decisively in Geekbench. This isn't a simple "one is faster" story; it's a tale of two different workloads and how each architecture handles them.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are a clean sweep for the i7-3635QM. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 408 against the i5's 387, a 5.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 57 for the i7 versus 54 for the i5, a 5.6% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 again takes multicore with 1703 versus 1613 (5.6% ahead) and single-core with 240 versus 227 (5.7% ahead). The R23 results continue the trend: 4057 vs 3842 in multicore (5.6% delta) and 572 vs 542 in single-core (5.5% delta). Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-3635QM holds a consistent 5.4–5.7% lead over the i5-3450.

Then comes Geekbench, and the story flips completely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-3450 scores 1985 against the i7's 1790—that's a 9.8% win for the desktop chip. The single-core Geekbench gap is even larger: 681 for the i5 versus 532 for the i7, a 21.9% margin. This is a dramatic reversal. The same two CPUs that are nearly tied in Cinebench are worlds apart in Geekbench, and the winner is the opposite one.

What explains this? The i7-3635QM has Hyper-Threading (8 threads vs 4), which helps in Cinebench's heavily threaded rendering workloads. But the i5-3450 has significantly higher clock speeds: a 3.10 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost versus 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost for the i7. In Geekbench, which appears to be more sensitive to raw clock speed and per-core efficiency than thread count, the i5's higher clocks win out. The i7's 6 benchmark wins versus the i5's 2 show that Cinebench's rendering tasks favor the mobile chip's thread advantage, but the Geekbench results prove that the desktop chip is no slouch in lighter, more latency-sensitive workloads.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs share the same fundamental design: Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22nm process, built by Intel, with a 160 mm² die size and 1,400–1,480 million transistors. The i7-3635QM has slightly more transistors (1,480 million vs 1,400 million), likely due to the additional Hyper-Threading logic. Both have 4 cores, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The critical differences are in platform and feature set. The i7-3635QM is a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, socketed in Intel BGA 1224, and ships with Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The i5-3450 is a desktop part with a 77W TDP, uses Intel Socket 1155, and pairs with the weaker Intel HD 2500 graphics. The i5-3450 supports DDR3 memory with a 25.6 GB/s bandwidth figure, while the i7-3635QM's memory bandwidth isn't listed—but both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-3450 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7's PCIe support isn't specified. The i5-3450 has a launch MSRP of $174; the i7-3635QM has no listed MSRP.

The biggest architectural split is threads: the i7-3635QM doubles the thread count to 8 via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3450 is a pure 4-core, 4-thread design. This is the single most important factor in the Cinebench results. The i5-3450 compensates with a 700 MHz higher base clock and a 100 MHz higher boost clock, which drives its Geekbench wins.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. If you're rendering 3D scenes or doing any heavily threaded productivity work in applications similar to Cinebench, the i7-3635QM is the clear choice—it wins every single Cinebench test by roughly 5.5%, and that margin is consistent across R15, R20, and R23. The Hyper-Threading advantage is real and measurable in these workloads.

However, if you're looking at general-purpose desktop use—browsing, office work, lighter applications that resemble Geekbench's test patterns—the i5-3450 is the better performer. It beats the i7 by 9.8% in Geekbench multicore and a massive 21.9% in single-core. That's not a small gap; it means the i5 will feel snappier in day-to-day tasks and in applications that don't scale well beyond 4 threads.

The i5-3450 also has practical advantages: it's a desktop chip with a socketed design (Socket 1155), which means you can build or upgrade a system around it. The i7-3635QM is BGA-mounted, meaning it's soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. The i5 has a lower average benchmark score (1166 vs 1170), but the difference is negligible—0.3%. Both CPUs sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, making them firmly mid-range in the broader landscape.

Pick the i7-3635QM if your workflow is dominated by multi-threaded rendering. Pick the i5-3450 if you need raw single-thread performance and a desktop platform with a $174 launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM scores 4057 versus the i5-3450's 3842, a 5.6% advantage for the mobile chip.

Q: How big is the Geekbench single-core gap?

A: The i5-3450 wins 681 to 532, which is a 21.9% lead—the largest performance delta in any benchmark between these two CPUs.

Q: Do both chips have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the i7-3635QM supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3450 is limited to 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i7-3635QM has a 45W TDP, while the i5-3450 draws 77W. The mobile chip is more power-efficient, which makes sense given its BGA socket and laptop target market.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-3635QM ships with Intel HD 4000, whereas the i5-3450 has Intel HD 2500. The i7's iGPU is the more capable of the two.

Q: Are these CPUs the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are Ivy Bridge on a 22nm process with 160 mm² die sizes. The i7-3635QM has 1,480 million transistors, while the i5-3450 has 1,400 million.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-3635QM wins in:

• Cinebench R15 multicore (408 vs 387)
• Cinebench R15 single-core (57 vs 54)
• Cinebench R20 multicore (1703 vs 1613)
• Cinebench R20 single-core (240 vs 227)
• Cinebench R23 multicore (4057 vs 3842)
• Cinebench R23 single-core (572 vs 542)

These wins are all in rendering workloads, where the extra 4 threads from Hyper-Threading provide a consistent 5.4–5.7% boost. The i7 also offers better integrated graphics (HD 4000) and a lower TDP (45W vs 77W), making it the more power-efficient choice for laptops.

Intel Core i5-3450 wins in:

• Geekbench multicore (1985 vs 1790)
• Geekbench single-core (681 vs 532)

The Geekbench wins are substantial—9.8% and 21.9% respectively—and stem from the i5's higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base, 3.50 GHz boost). This chip also has a socketed design (Socket 1155), PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, a 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth figure, and a $174 launch MSRP. It's the better choice for desktop builds where single-thread responsiveness and platform flexibility matter more than multi-threaded rendering.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3635QM | Intel Core i5-3450 |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45W | 77W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1224 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Transistors | 1,480 million | 1,400 million |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-08-31 | 2012-04-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $174 |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR0PF |

The i7-3635QM is a mobile chip with more threads, a lower TDP, and better iGPU. The i5-3450 is a desktop chip with higher clocks, more platform features (DDR3 support, PCIe Gen 3, listed memory bandwidth), and a $174 launch MSRP. Both share the same core count, cache layout, architecture, process node, and die size. The i5-3450 was released earlier (April 2012 versus August 2012) and is marked end-of-life, while the i7's production status isn't specified.