Intel Core i5-6500TE vs Intel Core i7-3840QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-3840QM and the Intel Core i5-6500TE reveals a decisive split across test suites. The i7-3840QM wins six of the eight recorded benchmarks, while the i5-6500TE takes two. However, the magnitude and direction of those wins tell a more nuanced story than raw victory counts.

In Cinebench testing, the i7-3840QM establishes a consistent advantage across all three versions of the render workload. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 498 against 428 for the i5-6500TE, a 16.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 70 versus 60, which translates to a 16.7% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result sees the i7 at 2079 versus 1787, a 16.3% margin, while single-core scores sit at 293 versus 252, again a 16.3% difference. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multicore 4952 versus 4255 (16.4% ahead), and single-core 699 versus 600 (16.5% ahead). These results are remarkably consistent, with every Cinebench delta falling between 16.3% and 16.7%. The i7-3840QM does not merely edge out its rival; it maintains a stable, repeatable performance advantage across every render test.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-6500TE scores 2749 against 2111 for the i7-3840QM. That is a 23.2% deficit for the i7, meaning the i5-6500TE is substantially faster in this workload. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even larger swing: the i5-6500TE scores 1062 versus 628 for the i7-3840QM, a 40.9% advantage. These are not marginal differences. The i5-6500TE nearly doubles the single-core score of its rival in Geekbench, and the multicore gap is also very large.

The database also records average benchmark scores for each processor. The i7-3840QM averages 1416, while the i5-6500TE averages 1399. That places them within 1.2% of each other overall, despite the very different distribution of wins. The i7-3840QM sits in the 37th percentile of all CPUs, and the i5-6500TE also sits in the 37th percentile. Their nearest rivals confirm the closeness: the i7-3840QM is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314, both of which average 1415, and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-4460 at 1415, while trailing the Intel Core i7-2700K at 1419 by 0.2%. The i5-6500TE is similarly close to its rivals: the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 averages 1401 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Xeon E-2104G averages 1402 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 averages 1396 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE averages 1404 (0.4% ahead). Both processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution, but they achieve that position through very different strengths.

The Cinebench results suggest that the i7-3840QM has a clear edge in sustained multi-threaded rendering, and the single-core Cinebench tests also favor it. The Geekbench results, however, indicate that the i5-6500TE has a fundamentally different performance profile, one that excels in the specific workloads Geekbench measures. The 40.9% single-core gap is the largest delta recorded between the two, and it is a strong signal that the i5-6500TE handles single-threaded integer and floating-point tasks with far greater efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests overall?

A: The Intel Core i7-3840QM wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE wins two. The i7-3840QM takes all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore), while the i5-6500TE wins both Geekbench tests (multicore and single-core).

Q: How large is the i7-3840QM's advantage in Cinebench?

A: The i7-3840QM leads by 16.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore (498 versus 428), 16.7% in R15 single-core (70 versus 60), 16.3% in R20 multicore (2079 versus 1787), 16.3% in R20 single-core (293 versus 252), 16.4% in R23 multicore (4952 versus 4255), and 16.5% in R23 single-core (699 versus 600). Every Cinebench delta falls between 16.3% and 16.7%.

Q: How large is the i5-6500TE's advantage in Geekbench?

A: The i5-6500TE leads by 23.2% in Geekbench multicore (2749 versus 2111) and by 40.9% in Geekbench single-core (1062 versus 628). The single-core gap is the largest margin recorded between the two processors in any benchmark.

Q: Do the two processors have similar overall performance?

A: Yes. The i7-3840QM has an average benchmark score of 1416, and the i5-6500TE has an average score of 1399. Both are in the 37th percentile of all CPUs. Their nearest rivals are also very close: the i7-3840QM sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-2700K, and the i5-6500TE sits within 0.4% of the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration difference?

A: The i7-3840QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-6500TE has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-3840QM supports Hyper-Threading, which the recorded data reflects in its higher thread count, while the i5-6500TE does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The i7-3840QM has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i5-6500TE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i7-3840QM runs at higher frequencies in both states.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision based on workload type. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core i7-3840QM is the stronger choice. It wins every Cinebench test by roughly 16% or more, and it does so consistently across three generations of the benchmark. The 8-thread configuration, combined with higher clock speeds, delivers a repeatable advantage in multi-threaded render workloads. The single-core Cinebench results also favor the i7-3840QM, with a 16.7% lead in R15, 16.3% in R20, and 16.5% in R23.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench, the Intel Core i5-6500TE is the clear winner. It beats the i7-3840QM by 23.2% in Geekbench multicore and by 40.9% in Geekbench single-core. Those are substantial margins, and they suggest that the i5-6500TE handles the specific mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations in Geekbench far more efficiently. The fact that the i5-6500TE achieves this despite having fewer threads and lower clock speeds points to a significant architectural advantage in those tasks.

The overall average scores are nearly identical: 1416 for the i7-3840QM and 1399 for the i5-6500TE. That means neither processor is a general-purpose upgrade over the other. Instead, the choice depends entirely on which benchmark suite reflects the user's actual applications. The i7-3840QM is the rendering specialist, while the i5-6500TE is the general-purpose and single-threaded performer.

Given that the i5-6500TE is marked as end-of-life and the i7-3840QM is a mobile part, the practical context also matters. However, strictly from the recorded benchmark data, the verdict is this: choose the i7-3840QM for Cinebench-class workloads, and choose the i5-6500TE for Geekbench-class workloads. There is no middle ground in the data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The i7-3840QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-6500TE has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-3840QM runs at a base clock of 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, whereas the i5-6500TE runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Thermal design power differs as well: the i7-3840QM is rated at 45 watts, and the i5-6500TE is rated at 35 watts.

The sockets are different. The i7-3840QM uses Intel BGA 1224, and the i5-6500TE uses Intel Socket 1151. The i5-6500TE is a desktop part, while the i7-3840QM is a mobile part. The i5-6500TE has a production status of end-of-life, and the i7-3840QM has no recorded production status.

Memory support differs. The i7-3840QM supports DDR3, while the i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The i5-6500TE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i7-3840QM has no bandwidth figure. The i5-6500TE also has a recorded PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3840QM has no PCIe data.

The i7-3840QM has a launch MSRP of none recorded. The i5-6500TE has a launch MSRP of $192. The part numbers also differ: the i7-3840QM is SR0UU, and the i5-6500TE is SR2LR. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap is significant. The i7-3840QM is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the i5-6500TE uses Skylake. The process nodes differ: the i7-3840QM uses a 22 nm process, and the i5-6500TE uses a 14 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The i7-3840QM has a recorded transistor count of 1,400 million and a die size of 160 mm². The i5-6500TE has no transistor count recorded, but its die size is 122 mm². The smaller die on the i5-6500TE, combined with the newer 14 nm process, suggests a denser and more power-efficient design, which aligns with its lower 35 watt TDP.

Cache hierarchies are similar in structure but differ in capacity. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs: the i7-3840QM has 8 MB shared, while the i5-6500TE has 6 MB shared. The larger L3 cache on the i7-3840QM may contribute to its Cinebench advantage, while the newer Skylake architecture likely drives the i5-6500TE's Geekbench strength.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-3840QM includes Intel HD 4000, and the i5-6500TE includes HD Graphics 530. The newer graphics solution on the i5-6500TE is part of the Skylake generation, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests.

The release dates reflect the generational gap. The i7-3840QM launched on 2012-09-02, and the i5-6500TE launched on 2015-10-10. The i7-3840QM belongs to the Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation, and the i5-6500TE belongs to the Core i5 (Skylake) generation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3840QM wins in Cinebench workloads. This includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore configurations. The margin is consistent at roughly 16% across all six tests. The i7-3840QM also has the higher clock speeds (2.80 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost), the larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB), and double the thread count (8 versus 4). These specifications align with its Cinebench dominance.

The Intel Core i5-6500TE wins in Geekbench workloads, specifically Geekbench multicore and Geekbench single-core. The margins are large: 23.2% in multicore and 40.9% in single-core. The i5-6500TE achieves this with lower clock speeds (2.30 GHz base, 3.30 GHz boost), fewer threads (4 versus 8), and a smaller L3 cache (6 MB versus 8 MB). Its advantages are the newer Skylake architecture, the 14 nm process node, and the dual memory support for DDR3 and DDR4. The i5-6500TE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, which is not recorded for the i7-3840QM.

The i7-3840QM is the choice for rendering tasks, specifically those modeled by Cinebench. The i5-6500TE is the choice for tasks modeled by Geekbench, particularly single-threaded operations where its 40.9% lead is decisive. The i5-6500TE also comes with the advantage of being a desktop part with a standard Socket 1151, while the i7-3840QM is a mobile part on BGA 1224.

Neither processor dominates across all recorded benchmarks. The i7-3840QM wins six tests, but the i5-6500TE wins the two tests with the largest margins. The 40.9% single-core Geekbench gap is the standout result in the entire comparison. For users who care about single-threaded performance, the i5-6500TE is the clear pick. For users who care about multi-threaded rendering, the i7-3840QM is the clear pick. The average scores are so close (1416 versus 1399) that the choice must be driven by the specific benchmark suite that matches the user's applications.