Intel Core i7-2820QM vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

# Intel Core i7-2820QM vs Intel Pentium G4600: A Benchmark Database Analysis

The Intel Core i7-2820QM and Intel Pentium G4600 occupy very different positions in the desktop and mobile processor landscape. The i7-2820QM is a quad-core, eight-thread mobile processor built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, while the Pentium G4600 is a dual-core, four-thread desktop chip based on the Kaby Lake architecture. The database records show that the i7-2820QM wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with its lead ranging from roughly 20% to 21% depending on the workload. However, the two chips target different markets: mobile computing versus entry-level desktops, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are decisive in this matchup. Across all five recorded benchmark tests, the Intel Core i7-2820QM takes the win. The largest margin comes in the multi-threaded Cinebench R15 test, where the i7-2820QM scores 372 against the Pentium G4600's 309, a 20.4% advantage. The smallest recorded win is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-2820QM posts 219 versus the Pentium's 181, a 21% lead. The pattern is consistent: the i7-2820QM leads by about a fifth in every test, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. There are no benchmark categories in which the Pentium G4600 comes out ahead. It is importantly the Pentium lacks a boost clock entirely, while the i7-2820QM's boost capability is a key factor in its consistent lead.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Core i7-2820QM is built on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, manufactured on a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Pentium G4600 uses the Kaby Lake architecture and a 14 nm process node. The i7-2820QM includes four physical cores and eight threads, while the Pentium G4600 offers two cores and four threads. The i7-2820QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz; the Pentium G4600 has a fixed 3.60 GHz clock with no boost capability. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i7-2820QM has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and an 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Pentium G4600 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a smaller 3 MB shared L3. The i7-2820QM supports dual-channel memory, as does the Pentium G4600, but the Pentium supports DDR4 memory while the i7-2820QM's memory support is not listed. The i7-2820QM includes integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics and belongs to the mobile market segment; the Pentium G4600 includes Intel HD 630 graphics and is a desktop part. The i7-2820QM is designated as end-of-life, while the Pentium G4600 remains in active production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data gives a clear picture of the i7-2820QM's advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2820QM scores 372 compared to the Pentium G4600's 309, a 20.4% difference. The single-core R15 result is 52 versus 0, a 21% gap (the database records a single-core score of 52 for the i7 and 0 for the Pentium, which is an anomaly in the data; the R20 and R23 single-core results are more informative). In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-2820QM scores 1552 and the Pentium G4600 scores 1289, a 20.4% lead. The R20 single-core result is 219 versus 181, a 21% edge. The R23 multi-score is 3697 for the i7-2820QM and 3070 for the Pentium G-4600, a 20.4% lead. The R23 single-core score is 522 versus the Pentium's 433, a 20.6% advantage.

The data shows a remarkably consistent performance gap. The i7-2820QM holds roughly a 20% to 21% performance advantage over the Pentium G-4600 across all tested workloads. The nearest rival processors in the database, including the Intel Processor N95, AMD Opteron 3380, AMD Athlon X4 880K, and Intel Core i5-5287U, all have average scores within 0.3% of the i7-2820QM's average of 1069. The i7-2820QM's percentile rank among all CPUs is 29, meaning it sits near the lower-middle of the database's performance distribution. The Pentium G4600's percentile rank is 29 as well, with an average benchmark score of 1056.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2820QM wins in every multi-threaded benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 372 against the Pentium G4600's 309, a 20.4% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the lead is 20.4%, and in R23 multi-core, the i7-2820QM posts 3697 versus 3070 for the Pentium G4600.

Q: Is the Pentium G4600 better in single-core tests?

A: No. The i7-2820QM wins single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-2820QM scores 219 versus the Pentium G4600's 181, a 21% margin. In R23 single-core, the i7-2820QM scores 522 and the Pentium G4600 scores 433.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The i7-2820QM's average benchmark score is 1069, while the Pentium G4600 averages 1056. The closest rivals are within 0.3% of the i7's score, but the Pentium is 1.2% slower.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-2820QM has a 3.40 GHz boost clock. The Pentium G4600 has no boost capability and runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2820QM | Intel Pentium G4600 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 2 / 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | None |

| Cache L1 / L2 / L3 | 64 KB (per core) / 256 KB (per core) / 8 MB (shared) | 64 KB (per core) / 256 KB (per core) / 3 MB (shared) |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | Not listed |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988) | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Kaby Lake |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 3000 | Intel HD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2011-01-02 | 2017-01-02 |

| Part Number | SR012 | SR35 |