Intel Core i7-3610QE vs Intel Core i7-3615QM Comparison

# Intel Core i7-3610QE vs Intel Core i7-3615QM: Mobile Ivy Bridge, Two Paths to the Same 45W Class

The Intel Core i7-3610QE and the Intel Core i7-3615QM share the same fundamental silicon: both are four-core, eight-thread Ivy Bridge parts built on Intel's 22 nm process, with 1.4 billion transistors on a 160 mm² die. The recorded benchmarks show the QE holding a lead across every single test in the database, with wins in 8 of 8 head-to-head comparisons. The margins are narrow, ranging from 0.3% to 3.2%, but they are consistent and repeatable. The data presents a clear verdict: the i7-3610QE is the faster part in this pairing, while the i7-3615QM sits just behind in every measured workload.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core i7-3610QE?

A: The database shows an average benchmark score of 1297 across all recorded tests. The nearest rival in the database, the AMD Opteron 6328, scores 1304, which is 0.5% higher, while the Intel Core i7-3630QM is 0.6% lower at 1289.

Q: How does the i7-3610QE compare to the i7-3615QM in multi-core tests?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3610QE scores 456 against 442 for the i7-3615QM, a 3.2% advantage. The gap narrows to 3.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1903 vs 1845) and to 3.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4533 vs 4393).

Q: Which part does the i7-3615QM win in the database?

A: None. In all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the i7-3615QM is the loser. The closest result is Geekbench single-core (554 vs 560, a 1.1% gap), where the 3615QM still edges ahead.

Q: What is the thermal design power of both chips?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-3610QE and the Intel Core i7-3615QM have a 45 W TDP. The i7-3610QE also matches the i7-3615QM in cores (4), threads (8), base clock (2.30 GHz), boost clock (3.30 GHz), and cache sizes (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB L3 shared).

Q: Do these two CPUs share the same socket?

A: No. The i7-3610QE uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) per the database, while the i7-3615QM is listed with Intel BGA 1224. Both are listed as Ivy Bridge architecture and carry the "Ivy Bridge" codename.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are architecturally near-identical. Both are built on the Ivy Bridge design, Intel's 22nm process node, and both have the same core count (4), thread count (8), base clock (2.30 GHz), and boost clock (3.30 GHz). The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 6 MB shared on each.

The differences are mostly packaging and platform. The i7-3610QE is listed with an Intel Socket G2 (988B) interface, while the i7-3615QM uses Intel BGA 1224. The i7-3610QE also carries the part number SR0NP, while the i7-3615QM is listed as SR0MP. Both integrate the same Intel HD 4000 graphics block. The database does not list a memory controller, PCIe, or a memory bandwidth figure for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are one-sided. The i7-3610QE wins all eight recorded comparisons. The biggest win comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the QE scores 456 versus 442 for the QM, a 3.2% advantage. The margin shrinks to 3.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1903 vs 1845) and 3.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4533 vs 4393). The single-core results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R15 single-core shows 64 vs 62, a 3.2% advantage; Cinebench R20 single-core 268 vs 260 (3.1%); Cinebench R23 single-core 639 vs 620 (3.1%).

The Geekbench suite shows a narrower gap. In Geekbench multi-core, the QE is 1954, the QM is 1907, a 2.5% difference. In the single-core Geekbench, the QE is 560, the QM is 554, a 1.1% margin, the smallest in the set. The average of all eight tests returns a 2.8% advantage for the i7-3610QE, with a range of 0.3% to 3.2% depending on the test.

The QE's lead is consistent across all rendering, physics, and general-purpose workloads, but the margin is not large. In every test, the QM is close, often within the noise of measurement; the data shows a well-binned pair of parts, with the QE having a slight but reliable performance headroom.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-3610QE as the stronger chip of the two. It wins every head-to-head test in the database, with the largest win in Cinebench R15 multi-core (3.2%) and the smallest win in Geekbench single-core (1.1%). The i7-3615QM is never ahead in any test, but the differences are modest: in 7 of 8 tests the gap is between 1.1% and 3.2%, so the i7-3615QM is effectively a very close second.

For buyers on the mobile side, the i7-3610QE is the part to choose if the absolute peak benchmark result is the target. The i7-3615QM is not slower in any meaningful way, but it does not win a single comparison. The choice is simple: i7-3610QE if the data on the most demanding tests is to be maximized, i7-3615QM if socket compatibility or package considerations point the other way. Both are 45W Ivy Bridge quad-core chips with the same clocks and caches; the difference in the data is in the packaging and the measurement.

Specification Differences

The database records only a handful of differences between the two parts. The i7-3610QE is listed with socket Intel Socket G2 (988B); the i7-3615QM is socket Intel BGA 1224. Part numbers also differ: SR0NP for the QE and SR0MP for the QM. The integrated graphics unit is identical (Intel HD 4000), and the memory bus type is dual-channel for each. No other differences (memory support, ECC, PCIe) are recorded for either processor.

Where Each One Wins

Based on benchmark data, the i7-3610QE wins in every comparison. It has a higher score in 8 of 8 tests, from a 1.1% Geekbench single-core victory to a 3.2% Cinebench R15 multi-core victory. The i7-3615QM has no win, but the margin is small enough that the i7-3615QM remains competitive in all workloads.

The i7-3610QE is the choice for maximum multi-core and single-core performance, particularly in Cinebench and Geekbench. The i7-3615QM is the alternative if the BGA 1224 socket or the SR0MP part number is part of your design requirements. Both parts are 45W, 4-core/8-thread products with the same Ivy Bridge architecture, 22 nm process, and identical clock and cache structure. The benchmark margins are small, but the i7-3610QE wins all of them; the data does not show a scenario in which the i7-3615QM is preferable on pure performance, only on platform or part-number grounds.