Intel Core i7-2600S vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data leaves little room for ambiguity: the Intel Core i7-2600S wins all seven head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i7-2720QM. The desktop part takes every single-core and multi-core comparison, with no test going to the mobile chip. This is a clean sweep, and the pattern holds across both Cinebench and Geekbench workloads.

The i7-2600S is the clear choice for raw compute performance. Its wins are consistent, ranging from a 15% advantage in multi-core tests to a 19.4% edge in Geekbench single-core. The i7-2720QM, by contrast, does not claim a single victory in the database's head-to-head results. That said, the mobile chip's role is different. It is built for a lower power envelope, and its 45W TDP compared to the 65W TDP of the desktop part suggests a trade-off between performance and thermal headroom. The data does not include battery life or thermal tests, so any advantage there is implied by the specifications rather than measured.

For users prioritizing compute throughput, the i7-2600S is the obvious pick. For those needing a Sandy Bridge quad-core in a mobile form factor, the i7-2720QM is the only one of the two that fits that socket and market segment.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design. They are Sandy Bridge parts, built on a 32 nm process at Intel's foundry, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both use a dual-channel memory bus with DDR3 support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life products.

The differences are in the details. The i7-2600S runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the i7-2720QM starts lower at 2.20 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz. That clock advantage is the most direct explanation for the desktop part's benchmark lead. The i7-2600S also has a larger shared L3 cache: 8 MB versus 6 MB on the mobile chip. Both have the same per-core L1 and L2 caches at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-2600S ships with Intel HD 2000, while the i7-2720QM includes Intel HD 3000. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so the practical impact of that difference is not quantified here. The sockets are different, with the desktop part using Intel Socket 1155 and the mobile part using Intel BGA 1224, which reflects their respective desktop and mobile market segments. The i7-2600S also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-2720QM has no PCIe field recorded.

The release dates are close, with the i7-2600S appearing on 2011-01-08 and the i7-2720QM on 2011-01-02. Both are Sandy Bridge generation parts, so the architectural foundation is identical. The differences come down to clocks, cache, power target, and platform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 396 against 344 for the i7-2720QM, a 15.1% advantage. The same delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where 1651 beats 1435, again 15.1%. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the pattern: 3933 versus 3417, another 15.1% lead.

Single-core tests show a similar story. Cinebench R20 single-core has the i7-2600S at 233 and the i7-2720QM at 202, a 15.3% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core is 555 versus 482, a 15.1% difference. Geekbench multi-core is 1765 against 1535, a 15% edge, and Geekbench single-core is the largest margin of all: 578 versus 484, a 19.4% lead.

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across six of the seven tests, the difference hovers at 15% to 15.3%. Only Geekbench single-core breaks out with a larger gap. This suggests the clock and cache differences translate into a steady, predictable performance advantage rather than one that varies by workload type. The i7-2600S is not just faster in a few niche tests; it is faster everywhere the database measures.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this. The i7-2600S averages 1146 across all recorded tests, while the i7-2720QM averages 1128. Both sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are in the same performance tier overall, but the desktop part is consistently at the top of that tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S wins every multi-core test in the database. It leads by 15.1% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and by 15% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: How much of a single-core advantage does the i7-2600S have?

A: The i7-2600S leads by 15.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core, 15.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 19.4% in Geekbench single-core.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share the same 32 nm Sandy Bridge architecture, 1,160 million transistors, and 216 mm² die size.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

A: The i7-2600S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-2720QM has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Which chip has a lower power draw?

A: The i7-2720QM has a 45W TDP, while the i7-2600S has a 65W TDP. The mobile part is designed for a lower power envelope.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, both are listed as end-of-life products. The i7-2600S was released on 2011-01-08, and the i7-2720QM on 2011-01-02.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i7-2600S is the faster processor in every measured category. It wins all seven head-to-head benchmarks, with margins between 15% and 19.4%. Its higher base and boost clocks, along with its larger 8 MB L3 cache, give it a consistent edge over the i7-2720QM across both Cinebench and Geekbench tests.

The i7-2720QM is not without reason to exist. Its 45W TDP makes it a lower-power option, and it is the only one of the two that fits a mobile BGA 1224 socket. For a laptop or compact mobile system, the i7-2720QM is the only choice between these two parts. It also includes Intel HD 3000 graphics, which is a step up from the HD 2000 in the desktop chip, though the database does not measure graphics performance.

For anyone building or upgrading a desktop system with an Intel Socket 1155 board, the i7-2600S is the superior pick. It delivers more performance in every benchmark recorded, and its 65W TDP is still modest for a quad-core desktop part. The i7-2720QM should be considered only when the mobile form factor is a hard requirement, and even then, the performance gap is significant enough to warrant checking whether a higher-clocked mobile part might be available.

The average benchmark scores place both chips at the 32nd percentile, so neither is a high-end part by modern standards. But within this comparison, the i7-2600S is clearly the stronger performer, and the data does not suggest any workload where the i7-2720QM would be preferable on performance grounds alone.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2600S | Intel Core i7-2720QM |

|---|---|---|

| Base clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 45W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1224 |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2011-01-08 | 2011-01-02 |

| Part number | SR00E | SR00W |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Memory support | DDR3 | Not recorded |

The two chips share their core architecture, process node, transistor count, die size, core count, thread count, L1 and L2 cache sizes, memory bus width, ECC support status, and unlocked multiplier status. The differences above are the only specification fields where the two parts diverge in the database.