Intel Core i7-2760QM vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2760QM and the Intel Pentium G4600 sit at nearly identical average benchmark scores, yet their performance profiles are starkly different. The data shows a 29th percentile ranking for both CPUs, with the i7-2760QM averaging 1057 points against the Pentium’s 1056, a razor-thin 0.1% gap. This near-tie masks a sweeping victory for the older mobile chip across every head-to-head benchmark, raising questions about how architectural age and core count interact in real workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-2760QM dominates every recorded benchmark, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 366 against the Pentium’s 309, a 18.4% advantage. That lead persists in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 posts 1525 versus 1289, a 18.3% gap. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core too: 3631 for the i7 against 3070 for the Pentium, again 18.3% ahead. This uniformity across three generations of the Cinebench suite suggests the i7’s advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

The single-core results are even more surprising. The i7-2760QM, a 2011 mobile part, beats the 2017 desktop Pentium in single-threaded tests by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 215 against 181, a 18.8% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 512 versus 433, an 18.2% difference. The fact that an older chip with a lower base clock wins single-threaded tests by such a wide margin challenges the assumption that newer architectures automatically deliver superior per-core performance in these specific workloads.

The only benchmark where the Pentium G4600 lacks a direct comparison is Geekbench, where the i7-2760QM records 1625 multi-core and 534 single-core. With no head-to-head Geekbench data for the Pentium, the Cinebench results must carry the analysis. Across all five shared tests, the i7 wins every single one, with deltas ranging from 18.2% to 18.8%. This is a clean sweep, and the consistency of the margin — hovering around 18% — points to a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a quirk of any single test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM edges out the Pentium G4600 by a single point, averaging 1057 against 1056, a 0.1% difference that places both at the 29th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does the i7-2760QM perform in multi-threaded workloads compared to the Pentium G4600?

A: The i7 wins every multi-core test by roughly 18%. It scores 366 versus 309 in Cinebench R15, 1525 versus 1289 in R20, and 3631 versus 3070 in R23, showing a consistent 18.3–18.4% advantage.

Q: Does the Pentium G4600 win any benchmark?

A: No. In the five head-to-head benchmarks recorded, the Pentium G4600 wins zero. The i7-2760QM takes all five, including both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i7-2760QM leads by 18.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core (215 versus 181) and by 18.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (512 versus 433). The older chip is faster in every single-threaded test.

Q: How close are these CPUs in overall performance ranking?

A: They are effectively identical in aggregate. The i7’s average score of 1057 is 0.1% higher than the Pentium’s 1056, and both sit at the 29th percentile, with the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U and Intel Core i3-4350 within 0.1–0.2% in either direction.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Pentium G4600 runs at 3.60 GHz base, far above the i7-2760QM’s 2.40 GHz. Despite this 50% clock advantage, the Pentium still loses every benchmark, indicating the i7’s eight threads and boost capability outweigh raw base frequency.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different eras and design philosophies. The i7-2760QM uses Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, built by Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Pentium G4600 employs Kaby Lake on a 14 nm process, but the fact pack lists no transistor count or die size for it, leaving that comparison incomplete. What is clear is the generational gap: Sandy Bridge launched in 2011, while Kaby Lake arrived in 2017.

Core configuration is the most obvious architectural split. The i7-2760QM packs 4 cores and 8 threads, leveraging Hyper-Threading to double its logical processors. The Pentium G4600 has just 2 cores and 4 threads, also using Hyper-Threading but starting from half the physical core count. This doubling of cores and threads explains the consistent multi-core advantage, though it does not fully explain the single-core wins.

Cache hierarchy further differentiates the two. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache differs: the i7 has 6 MB shared, while the Pentium has 3 MB shared. The i7’s larger pooled cache likely helps feed its four physical cores, while the Pentium’s smaller cache must serve only two. The integrated graphics also differ — Intel HD 3000 on the i7 versus Intel HD 630 on the Pentium — though no graphics benchmarks are provided to quantify this.

The socket and market positioning reflect their intended use cases. The i7-2760QM uses Intel BGA 1224, a mobile socket, and targets laptops with a 45W TDP. The Pentium G4600 uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktops, rated at 51W TDP. The i7 is marked as end-of-life, while the Pentium remains active, indicating ongoing availability for the newer part.

Specification Differences

The spec sheets diverge on nearly every field except cache per-core and ECC support. The i7-2760QM offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Pentium G4600 provides 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i7 runs at 2.40 GHz, the Pentium at 3.60 GHz. The i7 includes a boost clock of 3.50 GHz; the Pentium has no boost clock listed, meaning it relies entirely on its higher base frequency.

Thermal design power separates them, with the i7 rated at 45W and the Pentium at 51W. The sockets are incompatible: BGA 1224 for the i7, Socket 1151 for the Pentium. Memory support differs as well — the Pentium explicitly supports DDR4 with a 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the i7’s memory support is not listed, though both use dual-channel buses. The Pentium also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7’s PCIe configuration is absent from the data.

Process technology marks a clear generational divide: 32 nm for the i7 versus 14 nm for the Pentium. The i7 carries a transistor count of 1,160 million and a die size of 216 mm²; the Pentium lists neither. Release dates show a six-year gap, with the i7 launching in September 2011 and the Pentium in January 2017. The i7’s part number is SR02R, the Pentium’s SR35F, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7’s market segment is mobile, while the Pentium is desktop, a distinction that shapes their respective use cases despite similar aggregate performance.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2760QM wins every benchmark category, making its case straightforward. In multi-threaded workloads, it leads by 18.3–18.4% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with scores of 366, 1525, and 3631 respectively. This makes it the clear choice for any application that scales with thread count, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation tasks. Its 8 threads versus the Pentium’s 4 provide a structural advantage that no clock speed can overcome in these tests.

The single-core results are more nuanced. The i7 leads by 18.2–18.8% in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, despite having a 1.2 GHz lower base clock. This suggests the i7’s boost clock of 3.50 GHz, combined with its larger 6 MB L3 cache, compensates for the age of the Sandy Bridge architecture. The data does not explain why the i7 wins single-threaded tests so decisively, but the numbers are unambiguous.

The Pentium G4600’s advantages are not reflected in benchmark scores but in platform characteristics. It supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and runs on the modern LGA 1151 socket. Its 14 nm process and active production status mean it remains available, while the i7 is end-of-life. For a desktop builder prioritizing memory bandwidth, PCIe connectivity, or long-term availability, the Pentium offers modern platform features that the i7 cannot match, even if benchmark scores favor the older chip.

The Verdict

The data strongly favors the Intel Core i7-2760QM in raw performance. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with margins between 18.2% and 18.8%, covering both single-core and multi-core tests. Its 4 cores, 8 threads, and 6 MB L3 cache deliver a consistent throughput advantage over the Pentium G4600’s 2 cores, 4 threads, and 3 MB L3 cache. The i7’s 3.50 GHz boost clock appears sufficient to overcome its lower 2.40 GHz base frequency and older 32 nm node, at least within the Cinebench workloads recorded.

The Pentium G4600 is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the benchmark suite. It offers faster base clock speed at 3.60 GHz, a modern 14 nm process, DDR4 support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. It is also an active product, whereas the i7 is end-of-life. For users needing a current desktop platform with modern memory and expansion capabilities, the Pentium provides those features. However, for anyone whose priority is computational performance as measured by Cinebench and Geekbench, the i7-2760QM is the unequivocal winner, despite being six years older and drawing 6W less power. The average scores may be nearly identical, but the head-to-head results tell a different story: the i7 dominates where it counts, and the Pentium’s platform modernity does not translate into benchmark victories.