Intel Core i5-6500TE vs Intel Core i7-3720QM Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two processors cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core i7-3720QM wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, taking every Cinebench test in both multi-core and single-core variants. The Intel Core i5-6500TE wins the remaining 2, both Geekbench tests, with a particularly large margin in single-core performance.

For users whose primary concern is sustained multi-threaded rendering, the i7-3720QM is the stronger option. Its 8 threads and higher boost clock allow it to lead by roughly 11% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The i5-6500TE, despite having fewer threads, counterattacks in Geekbench with a 31.6% single-core advantage and a 10.6% multi-core advantage, indicating that its newer architecture delivers better performance in that specific benchmark suite.

The i5-6500TE is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness in Geekbench-type workloads, and it also carries a lower 35 W TDP compared to the i7-3720QM's 45 W. However, the i7-3720QM's consistent Cinebench victories make it the pick for rendering and content creation tasks where multi-core scaling matters more. The two CPUs sit at the same 37th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1421 for the i7-3720QM against 1399 for the i5-6500TE, so neither is a clear overall winner without specifying the workload.

Architecture Differences

The i7-3720QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the i5-6500TE uses Skylake on a 14 nm node. The die sizes differ substantially: the i7-3720QM measures 160 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, whereas the i5-6500TE measures 122 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database. The smaller process node gives the i5-6500TE a density advantage, but the i7-3720QM has a larger physical die.

Both processors feature 4 cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache, with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The critical difference lies in threading: the i7-3720QM supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5-6500TE is limited to 4 threads. The i7-3720QM also has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the i5-6500TE's 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

The i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i7-3720QM's memory support is not listed in the database, though it does use a dual-channel memory bus. The i5-6500TE also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3720QM's PCIe configuration is unrecorded. Both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier.

The integrated graphics differ: the i7-3720QM carries Intel HD 4000, while the i5-6500TE has HD Graphics 530. The i7-3720QM is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1224, released in 2012, while the i5-6500TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151, released in 2015 and marked as end-of-life. The i5-6500TE has a launch MSRP of $192, while the i7-3720QM has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3720QM dominates the Cinebench suite entirely. In multi-core tests, it leads by 10.9% in Cinebench R20, 10.9% in Cinebench R23, and 11% in Cinebench R15. These wins come from its 8 threads versus the i5-6500TE's 4 threads, combined with its higher clock speeds. Single-core Cinebench results also favor the i7-3720QM, with a 10% lead in R15, 10.7% in R20, and 11% in R23. This suggests that for Cinebench's specific rendering workload, the older Ivy Bridge architecture with more threads and higher clocks outperforms the newer Skylake part.

The i5-6500TE wins decisively in Geekbench. Its single-core score of 1062 crushes the i7-3720QM's 726, a 31.6% advantage. The multi-core Geekbench result also favors the i5-6500TE, 2749 against 2457, a 10.6% lead. These results indicate that Geekbench's workload favors the newer Skylake microarchitecture's efficiency and IPC improvements, despite the i5-6500TE having fewer threads and lower clock speeds.

The practical split is clear: rendering pipelines that mirror Cinebench will prefer the i7-3720QM, while general-purpose computing that mirrors Geekbench will prefer the i5-6500TE. The i5-6500TE also wins on power efficiency, with a 35 W TDP against 45 W, making it more suitable for thermally constrained systems.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE has 4 threads.

Q: Does the i5-6500TE win any benchmarks against the i7-3720QM?

A: Yes, the i5-6500TE wins both Geekbench tests: 1062 versus 726 in single-core (a 31.6% lead) and 2749 versus 2457 in multi-core (a 10.6% lead).

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The i7-3720QM has a 45 W TDP, while the i5-6500TE has a 35 W TDP, making the i5-6500TE more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The i5-6500TE uses a 14 nm process, while the i7-3720QM uses a 22 nm process.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The i7-3720QM has an average benchmark score of 1421, while the i5-6500TE has an average benchmark score of 1399.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-3720QM's strongest multi-core showing is in Cinebench R23, where it scores 4718 against the i5-6500TE's 4255, an 11% lead. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 1981 versus 1787, a 10.9% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3720QM scores 475 against 428, an 11% gap. These three tests demonstrate consistent multi-threaded superiority for the i7-3720QM, driven by its 8 threads.

The single-core Cinebench results follow the same direction but with slightly different margins. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 666 versus 600, an 11% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 279 versus 252, a 10.7% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 66 versus 60, a 10% lead. The i7-3720QM wins every single-core Cinebench test, which is notable because the i5-6500TE has a newer architecture that might be expected to win on IPC alone.

The i5-6500TE's biggest victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where its 1062 score dwarfs the i7-3720QM's 726, a 31.6% margin. This is the largest delta in either direction across all eight benchmarks. The Geekbench multi-core test also goes to the i5-6500TE, with 2749 against 2457, a 10.6% lead. These wins suggest that Geekbench's particular mix of integer, floating-point, and memory tasks plays to Skylake's strengths, whereas Cinebench's rendering workload favors the i7-3720QM's higher clock speeds and thread count.

Looking at the aggregate data, the i7-3720QM's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 (1422 average score, -0.1% delta), AMD Opteron 4274 HE (1420, +0.1%), Intel Core i7-2700K (1419, +0.2%), and Intel Core i7-3820 (1424, -0.2%). The i5-6500TE's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 (1401, -0.1%), Intel Xeon E-2104G (1402, -0.2%), Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 (1396, +0.2%), and Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE (1404, -0.4%). Both CPUs sit in the same performance neighborhood as these rivals, with deltas of less than half a percent.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i7-3720QM has 8 threads, while the i5-6500TE has 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz for the i7-3720QM and 2.30 GHz for the i5-6500TE, with boost clocks of 3.60 GHz and 3.30 GHz respectively. The TDP is 45 W for the i7-3720QM and 35 W for the i5-6500TE.

The sockets differ entirely: the i7-3720QM uses Intel BGA 1224, while the i5-6500TE uses Intel Socket 1151. The architectures are Ivy Bridge versus Skylake, with process nodes of 22 nm versus 14 nm. The die sizes are 160 mm² for the i7-3720QM and 122 mm² for the i5-6500TE, with the i7-3720QM featuring 1,400 million transistors and the i5-6500TE having no recorded transistor count.

Memory support differs: the i5-6500TE supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i7-3720QM has no memory support listed in the database. The i5-6500TE has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3720QM has no recorded PCIe configuration. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4000 on the i7-3720QM versus HD Graphics 530 on the i5-6500TE.

Market segments differ: the i7-3720QM is a mobile part, while the i5-6500TE is a desktop part. The i5-6500TE is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i7-3720QM's production status is not recorded. Release dates are 2012 for the i7-3720QM and 2015 for the i5-6500TE. The i5-6500TE has a launch MSRP of $192, while the i7-3720QM has none recorded. Both have locked multipliers and no ECC memory support.