Intel Core i7-2635QM vs Intel Core i7-5600U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors into clearly defined territories. The Intel Core i7-2635QM wins five of the seven recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-5600U wins the remaining two. The victories are not evenly distributed across workload types; they cluster by the nature of the test.

The Intel Core i7-2635QM dominates every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 301 against 255 for the i7-5600U, a 15.3% advantage. The same 15.3% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1257 vs 1065) and Cinebench R20 single-core (177 vs 150). Cinebench R23 shows a nearly identical pattern: 2995 vs 2537 in multi-core and 422 vs 358 in single-core, with deltas of 15.3% and 15.2% respectively. This consistency across all Cinebench revisions indicates that the older Sandy Bridge part simply executes this rendering workload faster, regardless of core count or clock speed.

The Intel Core i7-5600U, conversely, wins decisively in Geekbench. Its multi-core score of 1750 beats the 1371 of the i7-2635QM by 27.6%. The single-core gap is even larger: 917 vs 442, a 107.5% advantage. These are not marginal wins; the newer Broadwell chip more than doubles the older part in Geekbench single-core performance. The divergence between the Cinebench results and the Geekbench results is stark, suggesting the two benchmarks stress fundamentally different aspects of the processors.

The average benchmark scores are close: 1005 for the i7-5600U and 995 for the i7-2635QM. Both sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i7-5600U include the Intel Core i7-2630QM at an identical 1005, the AMD FX-9830P at 1006, and the Intel Core i5-4300M at 1004. The i7-2635QM trails its nearest competitor, the Intel Core i7-2920XM, by 0.2% (995 vs 993 for the Xeon W3565).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras, and the specifications reflect that. The Intel Core i7-5600U uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14 nm process node. The Intel Core i7-2635QM uses Sandy Bridge, built on a 32 nm process. The newer process gives the i7-5600U a transistor count of 1,300 million on a die size of 82 mm², while the i7-2635QM packs 1,160 million transistors into a much larger 216 mm² die.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The i7-5600U has 2 cores and 4 threads, whereas the i7-2635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. This doubling of cores and threads helps explain the Cinebench multi-core lead for the older chip, despite its lower clock speeds. The i7-5600U operates at a base clock of 2.60 GHz with a boost of 3.20 GHz. The i7-2635QM has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) and a boost of 2.90 GHz. The Broadwell part has a higher base and boost clock, but the Sandy Bridge chip still wins the Cinebench suite.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache, however, is 4 MB on the i7-5600U and 6 MB on the i7-2635QM. The larger L3 on the older chip likely contributes to its Cinebench performance, since rendering workloads can benefit from more shared cache across additional cores.

Power envelopes are another distinguishing factor. The i7-5600U carries a TDP of 15 watts, while the i7-2635QM draws 45 watts. The threefold difference in thermal design power is a direct consequence of the process node and core count differences. The i7-5600U targets lower-power mobile systems, while the i7-2635QM was designed for larger laptops with more robust cooling.

Memory support also differs. The i7-5600U supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i7-2635QM also uses dual-channel memory, but the database does not list its memory bandwidth. The i7-5600U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU; no PCIe information is recorded for the i7-2635QM. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Integrated graphics differ by generation. The i7-5600U pairs with Intel HD 5500, while the i7-2635QM uses Intel HD 3000. The sockets are not interchangeable: the i7-5600U fits Intel BGA 1168, and the i7-2635QM uses Intel BGA 1224. Both are end-of-life products. The i7-5600U has a recorded launch MSRP of $393; the i7-2635QM has no launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload priorities. For rendering workloads as measured by Cinebench, the Intel Core i7-2635QM is the stronger choice. It wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison, with a consistent 15.3% margin in R15 and R20, and 15.2% in R23 single-core. The four cores and eight threads, combined with the larger 6 MB L3 cache, provide a meaningful advantage in this multithreaded rendering scenario.

For general-purpose integer and floating-point performance as measured by Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-5600U is the clear winner. Its single-core score of 917 is more than double the 442 of the i7-2635QM, a 107.5% improvement. The multi-core advantage of 27.6% is also substantial, despite the i7-5600U having half the cores and threads. This suggests that the Broadwell architecture's per-core efficiency, backed by the higher 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost clocks, more than compensates for the core count deficit.

The choice depends on the target workload. A system intended for Cinebench-style rendering should pick the i7-2635QM. A system intended for Geekbench-style tasks, where single-threaded responsiveness and per-core throughput matter more, should pick the i7-5600U. The 15-watt TDP of the i7-5600U also makes it suitable for thinner, lighter chassis, while the 45-watt i7-2635QM requires a more substantial cooling solution.

Neither processor stands out as an overall winner when averaged across all tests. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1005 for the i7-5600U and 995 for the i7-2635QM. Both sit at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, and the nearest rivals for each confirm their mid-pack positioning. The i7-2635QM matches the Intel Core i7-2920XM and AMD Opteron 4226 at 995, while the i7-5600U trades within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-4300M and AMD FX-9830P.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-2635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5600U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor is faster in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-5600U scores 917, which is 107.5% higher than the 442 scored by the Intel Core i7-2635QM.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-2635QM win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, it wins the Cinebench R20 single-core test with 177 points against 150, a 15.3% margin, and the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 422 against 358, a 15.2% margin.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-5600U has an average benchmark score of 1005, and the Intel Core i7-2635QM has 995, a difference of 10 points.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core i7-5600U is built on a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-2635QM uses 32 nm.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-5600U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, and the Intel Core i7-2635QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results reveal a consistent story across the Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i7-2635QM beats the Intel Core i7-5600U by 15.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 301 against 255. The same 15.3% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1257 vs 1065) and Cinebench R20 single-core (177 vs 150). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2995 vs 2537, again 15.3%, while Cinebench R23 single-core is 422 vs 358, a 15.2% margin.

The consistency of the 15.3% delta across all Cinebench tests is notable. It suggests that the performance gap between these two processors in rendering workloads is stable, regardless of the Cinebench version or whether the test is single-core or multi-core. The i7-2635QM does not merely win the multi-core tests due to its extra cores; it also wins the single-core tests by the same margin. This points to an architecture-level difference in how the two chips handle the Cinebench workload.

Geekbench tells a different story. The Intel Core i7-5600U wins Geekbench multi-core with 1750 points against 1371, a 27.6% margin. In Geekbench single-core, the i7-5600U scores 917 against 442, a 107.5% margin. These are the two largest deltas in the entire head-to-head comparison. The single-core result, in particular, is a decisive victory for the newer architecture. The i7-5600U more than doubles the score of the i7-2635QM in this test.

The asymmetry between the Cinebench and Geekbench results is the central finding of this comparison. The i7-2635QM wins all five Cinebench tests, while the i7-5600U wins both Geekbench tests. The wins for the i7-5600U are larger in percentage terms, but they occur in only two tests. The wins for the i7-2635QM are consistent across five tests, though each is a smaller 15.3% margin.

The overall win count favors the i7-2635QM at five wins against two for the i7-5600U. However, the average benchmark scores are nearly tied: 1005 for the i7-5600U and 995 for the i7-2635QM. This near-parity in the averaged scores, despite the divergent individual test results, indicates that the benchmarks measure different aspects of performance. A user prioritizing Cinebench rendering would see a clear advantage for the i7-2635QM. A user prioritizing Geekbench performance would see a clear advantage for the i7-5600U. The data does not support a single overall winner; it supports two different winners for two different workload profiles.