Intel Core i5-3570T vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570T and Intel Core i7-2720QM are both 45 W parts from Intel, but they represent different design philosophies from different eras. The i5-3570T is a desktop Ivy Bridge chip with 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2720QM is a mobile Sandy Bridge processor with 4 cores and 8 threads. Benchmark data shows a clear split: the i7-2720QM dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the i5-3570T takes Geekbench. This head-to-head analysis, based strictly on the provided fact pack, reveals that the choice between these two hinges on whether the workload favors raw multi-threaded throughput or newer architectural efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories belong to the Intel Core i5-3570T in the Geekbench suite. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-3570T scores 578 against the i7-2720QM’s 484, a 19.4% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The multi-core Geekbench result is similarly lopsided, with the i5-3570T posting 1705 versus 1535 for the i7-2720QM, an 11.1% lead. These are substantial margins, indicating that the i5-3570T’s Ivy Bridge architecture provides a significant per-clock performance uplift over the older Sandy Bridge design.

The i7-2720QM, however, sweeps the Cinebench tests entirely. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2720QM scores 344 against the i5-3570T’s 331, a 3.8% edge. The Cinebench R20 multi-core result shows a similar pattern: 1435 for the i7-2720QM versus 1383 for the i5-3570T, a 3.6% delta. The single-core Cinebench tests are closer but still favor the i7-2720QM, with a 202 versus 195 score in R20 single-core (3.5% lead) and 482 versus 465 in R23 single-core (3.5% lead). The Cinebench R23 multi-core test rounds out the sweep, with the i7-2720QM scoring 3417 against the i5-3570T’s 3293, another 3.6% margin.

The overall win count is 5 for the i7-2720QM and 2 for the i5-3570T. Yet, the magnitude of the victories tells a different story. The i5-3570T’s Geekbench wins are by 11.1% and 19.4%, while the i7-2720QM’s Cinebench wins are all under 4%. This suggests that while the i7-2720QM is consistently ahead in a specific benchmark family, the i5-3570T has a more pronounced advantage in the other. The average benchmark score reinforces this nuance: the i5-3570T averages 1136, while the i7-2720QM averages 1128. The i5-3570T’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-2550K, matches its 1136 average with a 0% delta, while the i7-2720QM’s closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-3330S, also matches its 1128 average. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite their divergent benchmark profiles.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2720QM is the clear winner for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, as evidenced by its consistent lead across all four Cinebench tests. This is directly attributable to its 8 threads versus the i5-3570T’s 4 threads. For tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, or any application that scales well with thread count, the i7-2720QM’s hyper-threading provides a measurable, albeit modest, advantage. The 3.5% to 3.8% margins are consistent, indicating that the extra threads are being utilized effectively across different Cinebench versions.

The i5-3570T, conversely, is the winner for single-threaded and lighter multi-threaded tasks, as measured by Geekbench. The 19.4% lead in single-core Geekbench is a massive gap, and the 11.1% lead in multi-core Geekbench is even more striking. This suggests that the i5-3570T’s newer Ivy Bridge architecture, with its 22 nm process node, offers superior instructions-per-clock (IPC) compared to the i7-2720QM’s 32 nm Sandy Bridge design. For everyday productivity, web browsing, office applications, and older games that rely on single-core performance, the i5-3570T should feel noticeably snappier. The i5-3570T also wins in raw memory bandwidth potential, though no specific bandwidth figure is provided; its memory support is listed as DDR3, while the i7-2720QM’s memory support field is null.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental difference lies in the microarchitecture and process node. The i5-3570T is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process, while the i7-2720QM uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process. This is a generational leap that explains the i5-3570T’s superior single-thread performance. The i5-3570T packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, whereas the i7-2720QM has 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The smaller, denser process allows the i5-3570T to achieve higher efficiency per clock.

Both processors share the same core configuration in terms of physical cores: 4 cores, with the i7-2720QM adding hyper-threading to reach 8 threads. The i5-3570T is locked to 4 threads. Cache hierarchies are identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory, and neither supports ECC memory. The i7-2720QM’s memory support field is null in the data, but its memory bus is dual-channel.

The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-3570T featuring Intel HD 2500 and the i7-2720QM featuring Intel HD 3000. The i5-3570T supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-2720QM’s PCIe information is not provided. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i7-2720QM uses Intel BGA 1224, meaning the i7-2720QM is soldered to its board. The i7-2720QM is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3570T’s production status is null. The i5-3570T has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i7-2720QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and the same 3.30 GHz boost clock. Both have a 45 W TDP and unlocked multipliers are false for both.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570T. It scores 578 in Geekbench single-core versus the i7-2720QM’s 484, a 19.4% advantage. It also leads in Cinebench R20 single-core, though by a smaller margin of 3.5%.

Q: Does the i7-2720QM win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i7-2720QM wins all four Cinebench tests. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (344 vs 331), R20 multi-core (1435 vs 1383), R20 single-core (202 vs 195), R23 multi-core (3417 vs 3293), and R23 single-core (482 vs 465).

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: Both have 4 physical cores. However, the i7-2720QM supports hyper-threading, providing 8 threads, while the i5-3570T has only 4 threads.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-3570T has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1136, compared to the i7-2720QM’s 1128. Both are at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The i5-3570T uses the newer Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process, while the i7-2720QM uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process. The i5-3570T has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, whereas the i7-2720QM has 1,160 million on a 216 mm² die.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The i7-2720QM, based on its consistent wins in the Cinebench multi-core tests. Its 8 threads provide a 3.6% to 3.8% advantage over the i5-3570T in these specific workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3570T | Intel Core i7-2720QM |

|:---------------|:---------------------|:----------------------|

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1224 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Sandy Bridge |

| Generation | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 216 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | null |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | null |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | null | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2011-01-02 |

| Part Number | SR0P1 | SR00W |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1136 | 1128 |

| Geekbench Multi-core | 1705 | 1535 |

| Geekbench Single-core | 578 | 484 |

| Cinebench R15 Multi-core | 331 | 344 |