Intel Core i5-4670R vs Intel Core i7-3630QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3630QM and Intel Core i5-4670R are two very different processors that happen to land at nearly the same average benchmark score. The i7-3630QM is a mobile Ivy Bridge part with 8 threads, while the i5-4670R is a desktop Haswell chip with only 4 threads. Despite the architectural gap, the data shows a razor-thin race: the i5-4670R posts an average benchmark score of 1286, while the i7-3630QM sits just ahead at 1289. In the head-to-head suite, the i5-4670R wins all six tests, but the margins are consistently small, ranging from 1.8% to 3.2%. That makes this comparison less about raw dominance and more about which workload profile favors which design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-4670R takes every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the victories are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4670R scores 448 against the i7-3630QM’s 439, a 2% lead. Single-core in R15 is closer: 63 versus 61, a 3.2% edge for the i5. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4670R wins multi-core 1868 to 1832 (1.9% ahead) and single-core 263 to 258 (1.9% ahead). The pattern holds in R23, where the i5-4670R posts 4448 versus 4364 in multi-core (1.9% ahead) and 627 versus 616 in single-core (1.8% ahead). The largest gap is in R15 single-core at 3.2%, but even that is within the range of run-to-run variance you might expect from thermal or power differences.

What is notable is that the i7-3630QM’s extra threads do not translate into a multi-core win. The i5-4670R’s higher clock speeds — 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, against the i7’s 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost — compensate for the lack of Hyper-Threading. The i7-3630QM has 8 threads to the i5’s 4, yet it still trails in every multi-core test. That suggests the i5’s per-core efficiency and clock advantage are enough to overcome the thread count deficit. In single-core tests, the i5-4670R leads by 1.8% to 3.2%, which directly reflects its 0.30 GHz boost clock advantage.

The average benchmark scores from the broader database confirm this near-parity. The i7-3630QM averages 1289, while the i5-4670R averages 1286. In the nearestRivals list, the i5-4670R is 0.2% behind the i7-3630QM, and the i7-3630QM is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-3570 and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Opteron 6272. The i5-4670R is exactly tied with the i5-3570 at 1286, and trails the Opteron 6272 by 0.1%. Both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are mid-pack performers. The head-to-head sweep by the i5-4670R is real but modest; no test shows a double-digit percentage advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-4670R wins every benchmark in the head-to-head suite, so on raw performance it is the clear choice. Its wins are consistent across single-core and multi-core loads, from Cinebench R15 through R23. The largest margin is 3.2% in R15 single-core, and the smallest is 1.8% in R23 single-core. For applications that rely on per-thread performance — such as older games, lightly threaded productivity tools, or daily desktop use — the i5-4670R’s higher clocks give it a measurable edge. It also has a significant feature advantage in its integrated graphics: the Intel Iris? Pro 5200, which is a far more capable iGPU than the Intel HD 4000 found in the i7-3630QM.

The i7-3630QM does not win any head-to-head test, but it has structural advantages that matter in specific contexts. It is a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, versus 65W for the i5-4670R, and it uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), which is common in laptops and all-in-one systems. The i7-3630QM supports 8 threads, which can help in heavily threaded workloads that scale beyond 4 threads, even if the benchmark data does not show a win. Its 6 MB of shared L3 cache is 50% larger than the i5-4670R’s 4 MB, which can benefit workloads with large working sets. The i7-3630QM also has a lower launch MSRP of $378, though that figure does not reflect current market pricing.

In terms of memory, both support DDR3, but the i7-3630QM specifies dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-4670R’s memory bus and bandwidth are not listed in the data. That missing information makes it hard to compare memory performance directly. The i7-3630QM also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4670R has no PCIe specification listed. For a laptop CPU, the i7-3630QM’s lower TDP and socket compatibility are more relevant than raw benchmark wins.

The Verdict

If you are choosing strictly on benchmark performance, the Intel Core i5-4670R is the winner. It outperforms the i7-3630QM in all six head-to-head tests, with margins from 1.8% to 3.2%. It is a desktop part with higher base and boost clocks, and it has a much stronger integrated GPU in the Intel Iris? Pro 5200. For anyone building a compact desktop or an all-in-one system where the iGPU will be used for light gaming or media playback, the i5-4670R is the practical pick. Its 65W TDP is higher than the i7-3630QM’s 45W, but that is acceptable for a desktop chassis.

The i7-3630QM is the better choice only if your use case is tied to its mobile form factor. It fits the Intel Socket G2 (988B), which means it belongs in a laptop or a small-form-factor system designed for that socket. Its 8 threads and 6 MB of L3 cache give it theoretical headroom in multi-threaded software, but the benchmarks do not show that translating into wins against the i5-4670R. The 45W TDP makes it more suitable for thermally constrained environments, and it has a lower launch MSRP of $378. If you need a mobile processor and the i5-4670R cannot physically fit, the i7-3630QM is a solid mid-pack choice, sitting at the 35th percentile alongside its rival.

For a desktop build, the i5-4670R is the obvious pick. It wins every test, has a better iGPU, and is actively produced. The i7-3630QM is end-of-life and aimed at a different market segment. The data does not support choosing the i7-3630QM for performance reasons; it only makes sense for socket compatibility or power budget.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670R wins every single-core test in the head-to-head suite. In Cinebench R15, it scores 63 versus 61 for the i7-3630QM, a 3.2% lead. In R20, it wins 263 to 258 (1.9% ahead), and in R23 it wins 627 to 616 (1.8% ahead).

Q: Does the i7-3630QM’s 8 threads beat the i5-4670R’s 4 threads in multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads against 4, the i7-3630QM loses every multi-core benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4670R scores 448 versus 439 (2% ahead). In R20, the i5 wins 1868 to 1832 (1.9% ahead), and in R23 it wins 4448 to 4364 (1.9% ahead).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The i7-3630QM has an average benchmark score of 1289, while the i5-4670R averages 1286. That is a 0.2% difference in favor of the i7-3630QM, placing the i5-4670R as its second-closest rival after the AMD Opteron 6272.

Q: Which CPU has the better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4670R features the Intel Iris? Pro 5200, while the i7-3630QM uses the Intel HD 4000. The Iris? Pro 5200 is a more capable integrated GPU, though the benchmark data does not include graphics-specific tests.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i7-3630QM at 1289 and the i5-4670R at 1286.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i7-3630QM has a 45W TDP, while the i5-4670R has a 65W TDP. The i7 is a mobile part, and the i5 is a desktop part, which explains the lower power draw on the i7.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel architectures. The i7-3630QM is based on Ivy Bridge, while the i5-4670R is based on Haswell. Both are built on a 22 nm process node at Intel’s foundry, but the transistor counts differ: the i7-3630QM has 1,480 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the i5-4670R has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. That means the i7 packs more transistors into a smaller area, while the i5 uses a larger die with fewer transistors.

The core and thread configuration is a major split. The i7-3630QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4670R has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7’s Hyper-Threading doubles the thread count, but the i5 compensates with higher clock speeds. Cache also differs: both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i7-3630QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache while the i5-4670R has 4 MB. The i7’s larger L3 could help in cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmarks do not show a decisive advantage.

The integrated graphics are different generations and tiers. The i7-3630QM uses Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4670R uses Intel Iris? Pro 5200. The i5’s iGPU is a higher-end part, likely offering better media and display capabilities. The market segments differ: the i7-3630QM is a mobile processor, and the i5-4670R is a desktop processor. The i7-3630QM is end-of-life, while the i5-4670R is still active in production. The i7-3630QM has a launch MSRP of $378; the i5-4670R has no listed launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The sockets are incompatible. The i7-3630QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the i5-4670R uses Intel BGA 1364. Clock speeds differ: the i7-3630QM runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, while the i5-4670R runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i5 is 0.60 GHz faster at base and 0.30 GHz faster at boost. TDP also differs, with the i7-3630QM rated at 45W and the i5-4670R at 65W.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the i7-3630QM specifies dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-4670R has no memory bus or bandwidth listed. The i7-3630QM lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the i5-4670R has no PCIe information. The i7-3630QM supports ECC memory? No, both list ECC memory as false. The multiplier is unlocked on the i5-4670R, but locked on the i7-3630QM, which means the i5 can be overclocked if the platform allows it. The i7-3630QM has a part number of SR0UX; the i5-4670R has no part number listed.