Intel Core i7-2715QE vs Intel Core i7-950 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-950 across all five Cinebench tests. The i7-950 wins every head-to-head comparison, although the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-950 scores 280 against 275 for the i7-2715QE, a delta of 1.8% in favor of the desktop part. That is the largest gap in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-950 posts 1167 versus 1149, a 1.5% advantage. The single-core R20 result follows the same pattern: 164 for the i7-950, 162 for the i7-2715QE, a 1.2% edge. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 2780 for the i7-950 and 2737 for the i7-2715QE, again a 1.5% difference. The R23 single-core test closes the set at 392 versus 386, another 1.5% margin.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The i7-950 sits at 957, while the i7-2715QE averages 942. That places the i7-950 in the 26th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with the i7-2715QE just one point behind at the 25th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i7-950 include the AMD Opteron 4386 with an identical average score of 957, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 at 958, a 0.1% gap. The i7-2715QE's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941, just 0.1% behind, while the AMD Athlon X4 860K at 943 sits 0.1% ahead.

What stands out is not the size of the wins but their consistency. Every single benchmark, from R15 to R23, from single-core to multi-core, lands in the same narrow band of 1.2% to 1.8%. There is no workload where the i7-2715QE manages to flip the result. The data indicates a steady, if modest, performance advantage for the older desktop chip across all measured scenarios.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-950 wins in every category measured by the database. It leads in multi-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by the R15, R20, and R23 multicore scores. It also leads in single-threaded tasks, as the R20 and R23 single-core tests demonstrate. There is no benchmark category in the recorded data where the i7-2715QE comes out ahead.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in Cinebench-style workloads, the i7-950 is the clear choice. Its 1.5% to 1.8% lead in multicore tests translates into slightly faster rendering times for CPU-bound tasks. The single-core advantage, while small at 1.2% to 1.5%, still favors the i7-950 for lightly threaded applications.

The i7-2715QE does have one domain where it avoids a loss: power efficiency. With a TDP of 45 watts against 130 watts for the i7-950, the mobile part consumes far less energy per unit of work. However, the benchmark scores do not reflect any thermal or power throttling advantage, as the i7-2715QE still trails in every test. The i7-2715QE also offers integrated graphics, which the i7-950 lacks entirely, making it the better choice for systems that need a display output without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-2715QE is a Sandy Bridge mobile chip built on a 32 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-950 is a Bloomfield desktop chip from the Nehalem architecture on a 45 nm node. The process node difference is significant: 32 nm versus 45 nm means the i7-2715QE uses a smaller transistor geometry, which contributes to its much lower 45 watt TDP against 130 watts for the i7-950.

Transistor counts diverge sharply. The i7-2715QE packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i7-950 contains 731 million transistors on a larger 263 mm² die. Despite having fewer transistors, the i7-950 still manages higher benchmark scores, a result of its higher clock speeds.

Clock speeds are the most obvious differentiator. The i7-2715QE runs at a base clock of 2.10 GHz with a boost of 3.00 GHz. The i7-950 starts at 3.07 GHz base and boosts to 3.33 GHz. That is a substantial clock advantage for the i7-950, roughly 46% higher base clock and 11% higher boost clock, which explains how an older architecture can outperform a newer one.

Cache configurations also differ. Both processors share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache favors the i7-950 at 8 MB, while the i7-2715QE has 6 MB. The i7-950 also features triple-channel memory support with DDR3, whereas the i7-2715QE uses dual-channel memory. The i7-950 includes PCIe Gen 2 support, while the i7-2715QE's PCIe details are not recorded in the database.

Integrated graphics is a major divergence. The i7-2715QE includes Intel HD 3000 graphics, making it a complete system-on-chip solution for mobile platforms. The i7-950 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The i7-2715QE uses an Intel BGA 1023 socket, designed for soldered mobile installations, while the i7-950 uses Intel Socket 1366, a desktop platform with replaceable processors.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i7-950 outperforms the Intel Core i7-2715QE in every benchmark recorded in the database. The margins range from 1.2% to 1.8%, with the i7-950 winning all five Cinebench tests. Its average benchmark score of 957 versus 942 puts it in a higher percentile rank, 26th versus 25th, confirming a slight but measurable overall advantage.

Users who need maximum compute performance from these two specific parts should choose the i7-950. It delivers consistently higher scores in both single-core and multi-core workloads, with its higher base and boost clocks overcoming the architectural advantages of the newer Sandy Bridge design. The larger 8 MB L3 cache and triple-channel memory support likely contribute to this edge.

The i7-2715QE is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside raw benchmark performance. Its 45 watt TDP makes it far more suitable for power-constrained mobile systems, and its integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU. The data shows no scenario where it wins a performance test, so its appeal rests entirely on platform and efficiency considerations.

For a desktop system where performance is the sole criterion, the i7-950 is the pick. For a mobile or low-power build where integrated graphics and lower energy consumption matter more than a 1.5% performance delta, the i7-2715QE makes sense. The benchmark data provides no other basis for distinction.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-950 wins all three multicore tests. It scores 280 versus 275 in Cinebench R15, 1167 versus 1149 in R20, and 2780 versus 2737 in R23.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two processors?

A: The biggest gap is 1.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore. Other tests show 1.2% to 1.5% differences, all favoring the i7-950.

Q: Does the i7-2715QE win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows zero wins for the i7-2715QE out of five head-to-head tests, with the i7-950 taking all five.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-2715QE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i7-950 draws 130 watts. That makes the mobile part nearly three times more power-efficient in terms of rated thermal output.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the i7-2715QE includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 3000. The i7-950 has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-950 averages 957, while the i7-2715QE averages 942. The i7-950 sits in the 26th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i7-2715QE's 25th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2715QE | Intel Core i7-950 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.07 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.33 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 130 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1023 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Nehalem |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 263 mm² |

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

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Support | Not recorded | DDR3 |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 3000 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Part Number | SR076 | SLBEN |