Intel Core i7-2600S vs Intel Core i7-3635QM Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-3635QM and Intel Core i7-2600S are extremely close performers, separated by a single point in average benchmark score (1170 vs 1146). The i7-3635QM wins 7 of 8 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench workloads, while the i7-2600S takes only the Geekbench single-core test with a notable 8% margin. The data suggests the i7-3635QM is the better all-around choice for sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the i7-2600S holds a specific advantage in single-thread Geekbench scenarios. The i7-3635QM places in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, slightly ahead of the i7-2600S at the 32nd percentile. Given its lower 45W TDP and mobile market segment, the i7-3635QM delivers comparable or better performance in nearly every recorded benchmark while consuming less power on paper. The i7-2600S, as a desktop part with a 65W TDP, offers a single Geekbench win but trails in every Cinebench iteration.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent adjacent Intel architectures but differ substantially in their physical design and target platforms. The i7-3635QM is built on Ivy Bridge using a 22 nm process, while the i7-2600S uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process. This process shrink allows the i7-3635QM to pack 1,480 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, compared to 1,160 million transistors across a 216 mm² die for the i7-2600S. The smaller, denser design of the i7-3635QM is a key factor in its lower 45W TDP versus the i7-2600S's 65W TDP.

Both processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads, with matching L1 cache at 64 KB per core and L2 cache at 256 KB per core. The L3 cache differs: the i7-3635QM has 6 MB shared, while the i7-2600S has 8 MB shared. The i7-2600S's larger L3 cache does not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks, as the i7-3635QM wins most tests despite its smaller cache.

Clock speeds favor the i7-2600S on paper. The i7-2600S runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the i7-3635QM has a 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The i7-2600S also supports DDR3 memory and includes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-3635QM's memory support is not recorded in the database, but it uses dual-channel memory like its rival.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3635QM includes Intel HD 4000, while the i7-2600S has Intel HD 2000. The i7-3635QM uses an Intel BGA 1224 socket and targets the mobile market, whereas the i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part. The i7-2600S is marked end-of-life in production status, while the i7-3635QM's production status is not recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-2600S carries part number SR00E and was released earlier, with the i7-3635QM following later in 2012.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3635QM dominates the Cinebench suite across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 408 against 396, a 3% lead. In R15 single-core, it posts 57 versus 55, a 3.6% margin, its largest Cinebench win. The R20 multicore test shows 1703 against 1651 (3.1%), and R20 single-core shows 240 against 233 (3%). Cinebench R23 multicore results follow the same pattern: 4057 versus 3933, a 3.2% advantage, while R23 single-core shows 572 versus 555, a 3.1% edge. Geekbench multicore also favors the i7-3635QM, with 1790 versus 1765, a 1.4% win.

The i7-2600S's sole victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 578 against 532, an 8% margin. This is the largest delta in any head-to-head test, and it suggests the i7-2600S has an advantage in lightly-threaded, clock-sensitive workloads that Geekbench measures. The i7-2600S's higher base and boost clocks likely contribute to this result, as its 3.80 GHz boost clock exceeds the i7-3635QM's 3.40 GHz peak.

For users prioritizing Cinebench workloads, which include rendering and 3D animation tasks, the i7-3635QM is the clear pick. It wins every Cinebench test with margins between 3% and 3.6%. For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench single-core, the i7-2600S provides a meaningful edge. The overall benchmark distribution tilts toward the i7-3635QM, with 7 wins in head-to-head tests, and its average score of 1170 places it 24 points above the i7-2600S.

The nearest rivals bracket the two CPUs closely. The i7-3635QM sits between the Intel Core i7-2960XM and Intel Core i5-3570S, both at 1169, with deltas of 0.1%. The AMD Opteron 6220 at 1168 is 0.2% behind, while the Intel Core i3-7320 at 1173 sits 0.2% ahead. The i7-2600S is nearly identical to the AMD Opteron 4284 at 1146, with a 0% delta, while the Intel Core i7-3612QE at 1147 is 0.1% behind and the AMD Opteron 4332 HE at 1144 is 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149 is 0.3% ahead of the i7-2600S.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM has an average benchmark score of 1170, while the Intel Core i7-2600S scores 1146. The i7-3635QM also ranks slightly higher in percentile, at 33rd versus 32nd for the i7-2600S.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-3635QM scores 4057 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i7-2600S scores 3933. This gives the i7-3635QM a 3.2% advantage in that test.

Q: Does the i7-2600S win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i7-2600S wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 578 versus 532 for the i7-3635QM, an 8% margin. This is the largest performance gap in any head-to-head test between the two.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-3635QM and Intel Core i7-2600S have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share the same L1 cache at 64 KB per core and L2 cache at 256 KB per core.

Q: How does the L3 cache differ between the two?

A: The i7-3635QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-2600S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger cache on the i7-2600S does not produce a benchmark advantage in the recorded data.

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

A: The i7-3635QM has a TDP of 45W, while the i7-2600S has a TDP of 65W. The i7-3635QM achieves its higher benchmark scores despite the lower thermal design power.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test opens the comparison with the i7-3635QM scoring 408 against 396 for the i7-2600S, a 3% edge. This pattern repeats across the entire Cinebench family. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-3635QM posts 57 versus 55, a 3.6% margin, which is its largest Cinebench victory. The i7-3635QM's consistent lead in both multicore and single-core Cinebench tests indicates that its Ivy Bridge architecture provides a slight efficiency advantage over Sandy Bridge in these rendering workloads, despite the i7-2600S's higher clock speeds.

Cinebench R20 continues the trend. The multicore test shows 1703 for the i7-3635QM against 1651 for the i7-2600S, a 3.1% difference. The single-core test records 240 versus 233, a 3% margin. These results mirror the R15 findings within a fraction of a percentage point, suggesting a stable performance relationship between the two processors under varying Cinebench versions.

Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 4057 for the i7-3635QM and 3933 for the i7-2600S, a 3.2% gap. The single-core test shows 572 against 555, a 3.1% margin. The i7-3635QM's wins here are particularly notable given that the i7-2600S has an 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB, and higher base and boost clocks. The data indicates that the i7-3635QM's 22 nm process and Ivy Bridge architecture compensate for these apparent disadvantages.

Geekbench multicore narrows the gap. The i7-3635QM scores 1790, while the i7-2600S scores 1765, a 1.4% margin. This is the smallest win for the i7-3635QM in the entire comparison and suggests that Geekbench's multicore workload does not differentiate the two processors as strongly as Cinebench does.

The single Geekbench single-core result breaks the pattern. The i7-2600S scores 578, while the i7-3635QM scores 532, giving the i7-2600S an 8% victory. This is the only test where the i7-2600S leads, and the margin is more than double any advantage the i7-3635QM achieves elsewhere. The result suggests that Geekbench single-core rewards the i7-2600S's higher clock speeds (2.80 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) more than the i7-3635QM's architectural improvements.

The head-to-head tally stands at 7 wins for the i7-3635QM and 1 for the i7-2600S. The average benchmark scores confirm the overall picture: 1170 for the i7-3635QM versus 1146 for the i7-2600S. The percentile rankings place both processors in the lower third of all CPUs, with the i7-3635QM at the 33rd percentile and the i7-2600S at the 32nd. The nearest rival data places both in a dense cluster of similar-performing processors, with the i7-3635QM's closest rival being the Intel Core i7-2960XM at 1169, just 0.1% behind, and the i7-2600S's closest rival being the AMD Opteron 4284 at 1146, at parity.