Intel Core i5-6500TE vs Intel Core i7-3740QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a fascinating split between these two processors. Across the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Intel Core i7-3740QM claims victory in six tests, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE wins the remaining two. The margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

In the Cinebench suite, the i7-3740QM consistently outperforms the i5-6500TE by remarkably uniform margins. The multicore tests show deltas of -12.5% in Cinebench R15 (489 vs 428), -12.4% in Cinebench R20 (2040 vs 1787), and -12.4% in Cinebench R23 (4859 vs 4255). The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: -13% in R15 (69 vs 60), -12.5% in R20 (288 vs 252), and -12.5% in R23 (686 vs 600). This consistency suggests a fundamental throughput advantage that scales evenly across all Cinebench workloads.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. The i5-6500TE dominates in both Geekbench tests, posting a multicore score of 2749 against the i7-3740QM's 1993, a delta of 37.9% in favor of the Skylake part. The single-core gap is even more dramatic: 1062 vs 599, representing a 77.3% advantage for the i5-6500TE. These are not marginal differences; they indicate fundamentally different performance characteristics between the two architectures under Geekbench's workload patterns.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark averages, the two processors sit remarkably close. The i5-6500TE averages 1399 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-3740QM averages 1378. The i5-6500TE's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 with an average score of 1401 (delta of -0.1%), the Intel Xeon E-2104G at 1402 (delta of -0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 at 1396 (delta of 0.2%). The i7-3740QM's closest comparisons include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 at 1379 (delta of 0%), the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U at 1379 (delta of -0.1%), and the AMD Opteron 6366 HE at 1379 (delta of -0.1%). The two CPUs occupy nearly identical percentile positions, with the i5-6500TE at the 37th percentile and the i7-3740QM at the 36th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data suggests a clear workload-dependent performance split. The i7-3740QM's wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single and multicore, point to strengths in rendering and content creation workloads. Cinebench is designed to stress CPU rendering capabilities, and the i7-3740QM's advantage there is consistent and reliable. The 489 vs 428 multicore score in R15 and the 4859 vs 4255 result in R23 indicate that the older Ivy Bridge architecture handles these specific compute patterns more efficiently.

The i5-6500TE's wins in Geekbench multicore and singlecore suggest superiority in more general-purpose computing scenarios. Geekbench tests a broader range of tasks including encryption, image processing, and machine learning workloads. The 77.3% single-core advantage is particularly striking, as it suggests that for everyday applications and lightly threaded tasks, the i5-6500TE should deliver noticeably snappier performance. The 37.9% multicore advantage in Geekbench further reinforces this pattern, indicating that the Skylake architecture's efficiency extends to multithreaded general workloads as well.

The data implies that users running Cinebench-style rendering applications would prefer the i7-3740QM, while those running diverse everyday applications and general productivity software would likely see better responsiveness from the i5-6500TE. The i5-6500TE's desktop market segment and the i7-3740QM's mobile segment also suggest different intended use cases, with the desktop part potentially paired with discrete graphics and the mobile part constrained by laptop thermal limits.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations built on different process nodes. The i5-6500TE uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node from Intel, with a die size of 122 mm². The i7-3740QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, also from Intel, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The smaller 14 nm process gives the i5-6500TE a transistor density advantage despite lacking a listed transistor count in the database.

Both processors feature 4 cores, but they differ in thread counts. The i5-6500TE has 4 threads (no hyperthreading), while the i7-3740QM has 8 threads. This explains the i7's multicore advantage in Cinebench, where extra threads can be utilized effectively. The i5-6500TE compensates with higher architectural efficiency per clock, as evidenced by its Geekbench dominance.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-6500TE featuring HD Graphics 530 and the i7-3740QM featuring Intel HD 4000. The i5-6500TE supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory through a dual-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i7-3740QM's memory support and bandwidth are not recorded in the database, though it does use a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is not supported by either processor.

The i5-6500TE uses the Intel Socket 1151 and is classified as a desktop part, while the i7-3740QM uses the Intel BGA 1224 socket and is classified as mobile. The i5-6500TE supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3740QM's PCIe configuration is not recorded. The i5-6500TE has a production status of end-of-life, while the i7-3740QM's status is not listed.

Specification Differences

The base clock speeds differ notably: the i5-6500TE runs at 2.30 GHz, while the i7-3740QM runs at 2.70 GHz. Boost clocks show a similar pattern, with the i5-6500TE reaching 3.30 GHz and the i7-3740QM reaching 3.70 GHz. The i7-3740QM holds a clock speed advantage at both base and boost frequencies, which contributes to its Cinebench performance edge.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-3740QM has a TDP of 45 watts. The i5-6500TE achieves its performance with lower power consumption, making it more energy-efficient per watt in many scenarios. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates place the i7-3740QM earlier, launching in September 2012, while the i5-6500TE launched in October 2015. The i5-6500TE has a recorded launch MSRP of $192, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i7-3740QM. The i5-6500TE has a part number of SR2LR, while the i7-3740QM has no part number listed. The i5-6500TE supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, whereas the i7-3740QM's memory support details are not recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-6500TE has an average benchmark score of 1399, which is slightly higher than the Intel Core i7-3740QM's average of 1378.

Q: Why does the i7-3740QM win in Cinebench but lose in Geekbench?

A: The benchmark data shows the i7-3740QM wins all six Cinebench tests with deltas around -12.5%, while the i5-6500TE wins both Geekbench tests with substantial margins of 37.9% multicore and 77.3% singlecore. This suggests the two processors have different architectural strengths that manifest differently across workload types.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: Both processors have 4 cores. The i5-6500TE has 4 threads, while the i7-3740QM has 8 threads due to hyperthreading support.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: The i5-6500TE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i7-3740QM has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the lower power consumption?

A: The i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 watts, which is lower than the i7-3740QM's TDP of 45 watts.

Q: What is the cache configuration for each processor?

A: Both processors have identical cache structures: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data points to a choice based on workload priorities. For Cinebench rendering tasks and multithreaded compute workloads, the i7-3740QM is the clear winner. It outperforms the i5-6500TE by approximately 12.5% across all six Cinebench tests, both single and multicore. Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage in heavily threaded applications, and its higher base and boost clocks (2.70 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively, versus 2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz) contribute to this consistent edge.

For general-purpose computing and Geekbench-style workloads, the i5-6500TE is the superior choice. Its 77.3% single-core advantage and 37.9% multicore advantage in Geekbench indicate significantly better performance for everyday applications, web browsing, office productivity, and lightly threaded software. The Skylake architecture's newer 14 nm process node versus the 22 nm Ivy Bridge process likely contributes to this efficiency advantage.

The i5-6500TE also offers lower power consumption at 35 watts TDP compared to 45 watts for the i7-3740QM, making it the more energy-efficient option. Its desktop socket (Intel Socket 1151) and PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes provide modern connectivity options, while the i7-3740QM's mobile BGA 1224 socket limits it to laptop implementations. The i5-6500TE's support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth adds flexibility for system builders.

Users who prioritize rendering performance and multithreaded compute should select the i7-3740QM despite its older architecture and higher power draw. Users who value general responsiveness, energy efficiency, and modern platform features should favor the i5-6500TE. The two processors sit at nearly identical percentile rankings (37th vs 36th) and have close average scores (1399 vs 1378), so neither offers a decisive overall advantage. The correct choice depends entirely on which benchmark suite best represents the intended workload.