Intel Core i5-6500TE vs Intel Core i7-3615QE Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-3615QE wins every single benchmark in this head-to-head comparison. It takes all six recorded tests, with margins ranging from 10.4% to 11% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i5-6500TE records zero wins.

The i7-3615QE is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput, whether in single-threaded tasks or heavily threaded applications. Its multi-threading advantage, 8 threads versus 4, delivers consistent leads in every multi-core test. The i5-6500TE is the choice only when platform considerations matter more than benchmark scores, specifically if you need a desktop socket, lower power draw, or newer memory support.

For users with workloads that scale across cores, the i7-3615QE is the clear winner. For those locked into an LGA 1151 motherboard or requiring DDR4 memory support, the i5-6500TE remains a functional, if slower, alternative. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, 37th for the i5 against 36th for the i7, suggesting both are mid-pack performers, but the i7 does so with a consistent edge in every measured metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i5-6500TE is built on the Skylake architecture, using Intel's 14 nm process node, with a die size of 122 mm². The i7-3615QE uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a larger die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors.

Both chips share the same core count at 4, but the i7-3615QE doubles the thread count to 8 through Hyper-Threading. The i5-6500TE is limited to 4 threads. Base and boost clocks are identical: 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost for both. Cache configurations match as well, with 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs significantly. The i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7-3615QE has no memory support listed in the database, though it does use dual-channel memory. ECC memory is not supported on either part.

The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-6500TE featuring HD Graphics 530 and the i7-3615QE using Intel HD 4000. The i5-6500TE runs on Intel Socket 1151 with PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-3615QE uses Intel BGA 1023 with no PCIe data recorded.

Power envelopes are distinct: the i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-3615QE draws 45 watts. The i5 is a desktop part, released in 2015 with a launch MSRP of $192, and is marked end-of-life. The i7 is a mobile part released in 2012, with no MSRP recorded and no production status listed.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3615QE dominates every benchmark category in the database. Its largest margin comes in multi-core workloads, where the extra threads provide a measurable advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 481 against 428, an 11% lead. The single-core tests show a smaller but still consistent edge, 67 versus 60 in R15, a 10.4% difference. The pattern holds across R20 and R23, with the i7 leading by roughly 11% in both single and multi-core variants.

The i5-6500TE has no benchmark wins recorded. Its strengths lie outside raw performance. It offers a lower TDP at 35 watts versus 45 watts, which matters for systems with thermal or power constraints. It also supports DDR4 memory, which the i7 lacks in the recorded data. The desktop socket, LGA 1151, allows for easier board compatibility in standard PC builds, whereas the i7 uses a mobile BGA package.

In practical terms, the i7-3615QE is the better processor for rendering, video encoding, or any multi-threaded productivity task. The i5-6500TE is the better fit for a compact desktop build where power draw is the primary concern and DDR4 support is required. The average benchmark scores reflect the overall gap: the i7 sits at 1381, the i5 at 1399, a difference of less than 2%, but the i7 wins every individual test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The i7-3615QE wins all three single-core tests. In Cinebench R23, it scores 674 against the i5-6500TE's 600, an 11% lead. In R20, it scores 283 versus 252, and in R15, 67 versus 60.

Q: Does the i5-6500TE have any advantages over the i7-3615QE?

A: Yes, but not in performance. The i5 has a lower TDP at 35 watts versus 45 watts, supports DDR4 memory, and uses a desktop socket, Intel Socket 1151, instead of a mobile BGA package.

Q: How do their multi-core performances compare?

A: The i7-3615QE is consistently ahead by about 11% in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4774 versus 4255. In R20, it scores 2005 versus 1787, and in R15, 481 versus 428.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall ranking?

A: Yes, their percentile rankings are nearly identical. The i5-6500TE sits at the 37th percentile, while the i7-3615QE sits at the 36th percentile, placing both in the mid-range of all CPUs.

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The i7-3615QE has 8 threads, while the i5-6500TE has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores, but the i7 uses Hyper-Threading to double the available threads.

Q: Which processor is older?

A: The i7-3615QE was released in 2012, while the i5-6500TE was released in 2015. The i7 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node, while the i5 uses Skylake on a 14 nm node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the i7-3615QE. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 481 against the i5's 428, a delta of -11% from the i5's perspective. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 67 for the i7, 60 for the i5, a -10.4% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test gives the i7 a 2005 score versus 1787 for the i5, again an -11% delta. The single-core R20 test shows 283 against 252, with a -11% delta. The consistency is striking: every multi-core test lands at exactly -11%, while single-core tests vary slightly between -10.4% and -11%.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. Multi-core scores are 4774 for the i7 and 4255 for the i5, a -10.9% delta. Single-core is 674 versus 600, a -11% delta. Across all six tests, the i7-3615QE never dips below a 10.4% lead and never exceeds 11%.

The i5-6500TE shows its best relative performance in the R15 single-core test, where the gap narrows to 10.4%. Its worst relative showing is in the R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, and R23 single-core tests, all at -11%. The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story, with the i5 at 1399 and the i7 at 1381, but this is misleading: the i5's average is buoyed by its Geekbench scores, which are not part of the head-to-head comparison. The i7 has no Geekbench results recorded.

The i7-3615QE's wins are not marginal. They are consistent, repeatable leads across every generation of Cinebench in the database. The extra threads provide a measurable advantage in multi-core workloads, while the older Ivy Bridge architecture still manages a single-core edge over the newer Skylake part. The data leaves no room for ambiguity: if benchmark scores are the deciding factor, the i7-3615QE is the superior processor in this matchup.