Intel Core i5-4300M vs Intel Core i7-2675QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2675QM and Intel Core i5-4300M represent two distinct approaches to mobile computing from different eras of Intel's engineering. The i7-2675QM is a quad-core Sandy Bridge part from 2011, while the i5-4300M is a dual-core Haswell chip from 2013. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the older i7 dominates Cinebench tests across the board, while the newer i5 wins decisively in Geekbench. This creates a complex picture where the "better" processor depends entirely on the workload, with the i7-2675QM taking 5 benchmark wins and the i5-4300M taking 2.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2675QM is the clear winner in multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 314 against the i5-4300M's 253, a 24.1% advantage. This pattern repeats across all Cinebench iterations: R20 multicore shows 1309 vs 1056 (24% ahead), and R23 multicore shows 3118 vs 2515 (24% ahead). The i7-2675QM also wins single-core Cinebench tests, scoring 184 vs 149 in R20 singlecore (23.5% ahead) and 440 vs 355 in R23 singlecore (23.9% ahead). This consistent dominance suggests the i7-2675QM's four physical cores and eight threads provide substantial compute throughput that the dual-core i5-4300M cannot match, even with its higher clock speeds.

The Intel Core i5-4300M wins exclusively in Geekbench tests, and it wins big. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4300M scores 1817 versus the i7-2675QM's 1301, a 28.4% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: 882 vs 415, a 52.9% margin. This indicates that the i5-4300M has significantly stronger per-core performance in certain workloads, likely due to its newer Haswell architecture and higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz compared to 3.10 GHz on the i7-2675QM. For tasks that rely heavily on single-threaded integer performance or memory latency, the i5-4300M is the superior choice.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4300M has 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives the i7-2675QM a 2x advantage in both core count and thread count.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-2675QM has an average benchmark score of 1012, while the i5-4300M scores 1004. The i7-2675QM sits at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, and the i5-4300M sits at the 27th percentile. They are nearly identical overall, with a difference of just 0.8%.

Q: Which CPU is newer and what architecture does it use?

A: The i5-4300M was released later, on 2013-08-31, and uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. The i7-2675QM was released on 2011-10-11 and uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-4300M has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i7-2675QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-2675QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4300M has only 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-2675QM also has a larger die size of 216 mm², while the i5-4300M is 118 mm².

Q: How does the i7-2675QM compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-2675QM's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon W5580, which has an identical average score of 1012. It is also 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-2300 and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i3-7100H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a clear story of architectural divergence. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-2675QM scores 314 against 253 for the i5-4300M. That is a 61-point gap, translating to a 24.1% delta. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern: 1309 vs 1056, a 253-point difference and 24% delta. Cinebench R23 multicore follows suit with 3118 vs 2515, a 603-point gap at 24% delta. These results are remarkably consistent, suggesting the i7-2675QM's quad-core configuration provides a steady throughput advantage in rendering workloads.

Single-core Cinebench results are equally one-sided. The i7-2675QM scores 184 in Cinebench R20 singlecore versus 149 for the i5-4300M, a 23.5% delta. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the i7-2675QM scores 440 versus 355, a 23.9% delta. This is surprising because the i5-4300M has higher clock speeds (2.60 GHz base, 3.60 GHz boost) than the i7-2675QM (2.20 GHz base, 3.10 GHz boost). The data implies that the older Sandy Bridge architecture delivers better single-threaded Cinebench performance despite lower clocks, possibly due to cache hierarchy differences or the specific instruction mix of the workload.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4300M scores 1817 while the i7-2675QM scores only 1301. This is a 28.4% advantage for the i5-4300M, even though it has half the cores. The Geekbench single-core test is even more dramatic: the i5-4300M scores 882 against 415 for the i7-2675QM, a 52.9% delta. This massive single-core advantage suggests that the Haswell architecture in the i5-4300M has substantially better instruction-level parallelism and memory handling for Geekbench's workload, which likely favors newer instruction sets and lower-latency memory paths.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4300M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.20 GHz for the i7-2675QM versus 2.60 GHz for the i5-4300M. Boost clocks also differ: 3.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz respectively. Thermal design power is another distinction, with the i7-2675QM rated at 45 W and the i5-4300M at 37 W.

The physical packages are different: the i7-2675QM uses the Intel BGA 1224 socket, while the i5-4300M uses the Intel Socket G3. The i7-2675QM carries part number SR02S, while the i5-4300M has no part number listed. L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i7-2675QM versus 3 MB shared on the i5-4300M. Transistor counts also differ: 1,160 million for the i7-2675QM versus 1,400 million for the i5-4300M, despite the latter having a smaller die size of 118 mm² compared to 216 mm².

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-2675QM has Intel HD 3000, while the i5-4300M has Intel HD 5000. Memory support is only listed for the i5-4300M as DDR3, while the i7-2675QM's memory support field is null. Both support dual-channel memory on the i7-2675QM, but memory bus information is not listed for the i5-4300M. Neither processor has ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips is significant. The i7-2675QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, while the i5-4300M uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process shrink allowed Haswell to pack 1,400 million transistors into a 118 mm² die, whereas Sandy Bridge uses 1,160 million transistors across a much larger 216 mm² die.

The cache hierarchy is identical in L1 and L2: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the L3 cache is halved in the i5-4300M (3 MB shared) compared to the i7-2675QM (6 MB shared). This is partly a function of core count — the i5-4300M has only 2 cores, so it needs less shared cache — but it also reflects Haswell's more efficient cache design.

The i7-2675QM belongs to the "Core i7 (Sandy Bridge)" generation, while the i5-4300M belongs to the "Core i5 (Haswell)" generation. The integrated graphics units differ: Intel HD 3000 on the older chip versus Intel HD 5000 on the newer one. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplierUnlocked is false for both). The i7-2675QM is marked as end-of-life, while production status for the i5-4300M is not listed.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split recommendation. For multi-threaded rendering and content creation workloads, the Intel Core i7-2675QM is the better choice. It leads all five Cinebench tests by margins between 23.5% and 24.1%, with its quad-core, eight-thread configuration providing consistent throughput advantages. Its 6 MB of L3 cache and 45 W TDP reflect a design optimized for sustained compute performance.

For single-threaded performance and Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-4300M is the superior option. Its 52.9% advantage in Geekbench single-core and 28.4% advantage in Geekbench multicore demonstrate that the Haswell architecture delivers substantially better per-core efficiency. The 3.60 GHz boost clock and 22 nm process node give it a modern edge that the older Sandy Bridge chip cannot match.

Users prioritizing Cinebench rendering should choose the i7-2675QM. Users prioritizing Geekbench performance or lower power consumption (37 W vs 45 W) should choose the i5-4300M. The two chips have nearly identical average benchmark scores (1012 vs 1004) and percentiles (28th vs 27th), meaning neither is objectively superior overall — the right pick depends entirely on which benchmark suite reflects the user's actual workload. The i7-2675QM's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon W5580 at 0% delta, while the i5-4300M's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-2500S, also at 0% delta, indicating both sit in similar performance tiers despite their architectural differences.