Intel Core i7-2710QE vs Intel Pentium 6805 Comparison

Intel Pentium 6805 and Intel Core i7-2710QE are two mobile processors from different eras, and the benchmark data shows a clear, consistent outcome. The Pentium 6805, built on a much newer architecture, dominates every single benchmark in the comparison, despite having fewer cores and threads. The Core i7-2710QE, a Sandy Bridge part from 2011, cannot match the newer chip’s per-core efficiency and overall throughput in the tested Cinebench workloads. This analysis breaks down where each processor wins, the architectural reasons behind the results, and what the data means for a potential buyer.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Pentium 6805 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i7-2710QE. In multi-core workloads, the Pentium 6805 consistently posts scores roughly 19.3% higher than the Core i7-2710QE. In single-core tests, its advantage is even slightly larger, at 19.4% to 19.7%. The Core i7-2710QE does not register a single victory in any of the tested Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 scenarios.

This means the Pentium 6805 is the better choice for any workload that relies on the Cinebench rendering engine, which is a proxy for heavily threaded content creation and general CPU compute. Because the Pentium 6805 wins both multi-core and single-core tests, it offers a superior experience for both all-core tasks like video rendering and lightly threaded tasks like everyday application use. The Core i7-2710QE, despite having double the cores and threads, is left behind entirely. The older processor’s only theoretical advantage would be in a scenario where its extra physical cores could overcome the newer architecture’s per-core advantage, but the benchmark results show that this never happens in practice.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different Intel design generations. The Pentium 6805 is based on the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-Y variant, and is manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node. It has a die size of 123 mm². In contrast, the Core i7-2710QE is a Sandy Bridge part, built on a much older 32 nm process, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Pentium 6805 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i7-2710QE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this 2x disadvantage in core count, the Pentium 6805 wins all benchmarks, highlighting the massive generational leap in instructions-per-clock (IPC) from Sandy Bridge to Ice Lake.

Cache layouts also differ. The Pentium 6805 has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core and an L2 cache of 256 KB per core, with a shared L3 cache of 4 MB. The Core i7-2710QE has a smaller L1 cache at 64 KB per core, the same 256 KB per core L2 cache, but a larger shared L3 cache of 6 MB. The larger L3 cache on the older chip does not compensate for its architectural weaknesses in the tested workloads.

Clock speeds are also a factor. The Pentium 6805 has a base clock of 1.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Core i7-2710QE has a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz but the same 3.00 GHz boost clock. The Pentium 6805’s ability to match the boost clock while having a much lower base clock (which lowers power draw) shows the efficiency of the newer design.

Other notable differences include the integrated graphics: the Pentium 6805 uses UHD Graphics (32EU), while the Core i7-2710QE uses Intel HD 3000. Memory support also differs, with the Pentium 6805 supporting DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Core i7-2710QE’s memory support is not specified in the data. The Pentium 6805 also supports PCIe Gen 3, a feature not listed for the older CPU. The Pentium 6805 has a TDP of 15 watts, compared to the Core i7-2710QE’s 45 watts, making the newer part vastly more power-efficient. The Pentium 6805 uses the Intel BGA 1526 socket, while the Core i7-2710QE uses the older Intel Socket G2 (988B).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with the Pentium 6805 winning every test by almost the same margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium 6805 scores 383 against the Core i7-2710QE’s 321, a 19.3% advantage. This is a significant lead, especially considering the Pentium 6805 has only half the cores and threads.

In Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Pentium 6805 scores 1596 in multi-core versus 1338 for the Core i7-2710QE, again a 19.3% lead. In single-core, the Pentium 6805 scores 225 versus 188, a slightly larger 19.7% margin. This shows that the newer architecture’s per-core performance is even more dominant than its multi-core scaling.

The Cinebench R23 results tell the same story. In multi-core, the Pentium 6805 scores 3801, while the Core i7-2710QE scores 3186, a 19.3% difference. In single-core, the Pentium 6805 scores 536 against 449, a 19.4% lead. The uniformity of these deltas (all between 19.3% and 19.7%) suggests that the performance gap is a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Pentium 6805 is simply faster at every task tested, regardless of thread count.

The average benchmark scores confirm the broader picture. The Pentium 6805 has an average benchmark score of 1099, while the Core i7-2710QE is close behind at 1096. Both processors sit at the 31st percentile versus all CPUs, meaning they are in the same overall performance class. However, the head-to-head data shows that within that class, the Pentium 6805 is consistently the stronger performer. The Pentium 6805’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-3450S and Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3, both with identical average scores. The Core i7-2710QE’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2670QM, also with an identical score.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice is straightforward. The Intel Pentium 6805 is the superior processor in every benchmark test conducted. Anyone choosing between these two for a workload that relies on CPU rendering power should pick the Pentium 6805 without hesitation. It is faster in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench tests, despite having fewer cores and threads.

The Core i7-2710QE’s only potential appeal is its larger L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB) and higher base clock (2.10 GHz vs 1.10 GHz), but these specifications do not translate into any performance win in the measured benchmarks. The newer 10 nm process and Ice Lake architecture of the Pentium 6805 provide a decisive IPC advantage that overcomes the older chip’s core count advantage.

The Pentium 6805 also offers significant practical benefits. Its 15-watt TDP is one-third of the Core i7-2710QE’s 45-watt TDP, making it far better suited for thin-and-light laptops with limited cooling. The Pentium 6805 supports modern DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, while the Core i7-2710QE’s memory support is unlisted and PCIe support is absent from the data. The Pentium 6805 is a more modern, efficient, and faster processor.

In short, the data shows that the Pentium 6805 is a clear winner. The Core i7-2710QE is an older, less efficient processor that cannot compete in raw performance despite its extra cores. For any new build or upgrade, the Pentium 6805 is the only logical choice based on these benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2710QE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Pentium 6805 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Pentium 6805 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 536 versus 449 for the Core i7-2710QE, a 19.4% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Pentium 6805 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i7-2710QE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2710QE has a larger shared L3 cache of 6 MB, compared to 4 MB on the Intel Pentium 6805.

Q: What is the manufacturing process node for each?

A: The Intel Pentium 6805 is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-2710QE is built on a 32 nm process.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Pentium 6805 has an average benchmark score of 1099, slightly higher than the Core i7-2710QE’s 1096.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium 6805 | Intel Core i7-2710QE |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Ice Lake-Y | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not specified | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 216 mm² |

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.10 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | Intel Socket G2 (988B) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | Not specified |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics (32EU) | Intel HD 3000 |

| Part Number | SRK0U | SR02T |

| Release Date | 2020-09-30 | 2011-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $161 | Not specified |