Intel Core i7-3610QE vs Intel Core i7-3630QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3610QE and Intel Core i7-3630QM are nearly identical Ivy Bridge mobile processors, both built on a 22 nm process with 4 cores and 8 threads. Yet the benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the 3610QE dominates every Cinebench test, while the 3630QM counters with decisive Geekbench victories. This is not a simple "one is faster" story; it is a tale of two different performance personalities emerging from almost the same silicon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear pattern that defies the specifications. The Intel Core i7-3610QE wins six of the eight benchmark comparisons, and it does so with remarkable consistency across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 3610QE scores 456 against the 3630QM's 439, a 3.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 64 versus 61, a 4.9% lead for the 3610QE. This consistency is striking—the 3610QE maintains a 3.9% edge in Cinebench R20 multicore (1903 vs 1832) and single-core (268 vs 258), and repeats the exact 3.9% delta in Cinebench R23 multicore (4533 vs 4364). The only slight variation comes in R23 single-core, where the 3610QE leads 639 to 616, a 3.7% margin.

But then the data flips. In Geekbench multicore, the 3630QM scores 2111 against the 3610QE's 1954, giving the 3630QM a 7.4% advantage. The Geekbench single-core gap is even wider: 633 versus 560, an 11.5% lead for the 3630QM. These are not marginal differences—an 11.5% swing in single-core performance is substantial, and it completely reverses the narrative established by Cinebench.

What explains this bipolar behavior? The average benchmark scores hint at the overall picture: the 3610QE averages 1297 across all tests, while the 3630QM averages 1289. The delta between them is just 0.6%, placing them virtually neck-and-neck in the aggregate. Both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile of all processors, and their nearest rivals include the same AMD Opteron 6272—the 3610QE is 0.7% ahead of that chip, while the 3630QM is just 0.1% ahead. The data suggests these two processors are trading blows, with the 3610QE favored by Cinebench's rendering workload and the 3630QM favored by Geekbench's more diverse integer and floating-point mix.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-3610QE wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. The Intel Core i7-3630QM wins only the Geekbench multicore and single-core tests.

Q: How large is the Geekbench single-core difference?

A: The 3630QM leads by 11.5% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 633 versus the 3610QE's 560. This is the largest performance gap in either direction across all compared benchmarks.

Q: Are the average benchmark scores close?

A: Yes. The 3610QE has an average benchmark score of 1297, while the 3630QM averages 1289. The 3610QE is only 0.6% higher, and both processors occupy the 35th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket and architecture?

A: Yes, both use the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and are based on the Ivy Bridge architecture with a 22 nm process node. They also share the same 45 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The 3610QE was released on 2012-04-28, while the 3630QM followed on 2012-09-29. The 3630QM is marked as end-of-life, while the 3610QE's production status is not specified.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The 3630QM has a higher base clock at 2.40 GHz, compared to the 3610QE's 2.30 GHz. The boost clocks also favor the 3630QM: 3.40 GHz versus 3.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Despite sharing the Ivy Bridge codename, the 22 nm process node, and Intel as the foundry, the two chips diverge in subtle architectural details. The 3610QE packs 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the 3630QM contains 1,480 million transistors on the same 160 mm² die. That is an 80 million transistor difference, yet both deliver identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The extra transistors in the 3630QM do not translate into extra cache or additional cores—both are strictly 4-core, 8-thread parts.

The memory subsystem shows another divergence. The 3630QM explicitly lists DDR3 memory support with dual-channel operation and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The 3610QE's memory support field is null, though it does confirm dual-channel memory. The 3630QM also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 3610QE's PCIe configuration is not listed. Both processors integrate Intel HD 4000 graphics, but the 3630QM's richer feature disclosure suggests it was positioned as the more fully specified mobile part.

The 3610QE's part number is SR0NP, while the 3630QM is SR0UX. Both are unlocked for multiplier adjustment, meaning overclocking is possible on either. The 3630QM carries a launch MSRP of $378, while the 3610QE's launch price is not recorded. Neither supports ECC memory, keeping them firmly in the consumer mobile segment.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is clock speed. The 3630QM runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, while the 3610QE sits at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. That 100 MHz advantage on both clocks likely explains the 3630QM's Geekbench wins, but it does not account for the 3610QE's Cinebench dominance—suggesting the benchmark workload matters more than raw clock rate here.

Transistor count differs: 1,480 million in the 3630QM versus 1,400 million in the 3610QE. The die size remains identical at 160 mm². Memory support is explicitly DDR3 for the 3630QM, while the 3610QE's memory type is unspecified. The 3630QM lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, neither of which appears in the 3610QE's specifications. The 3630QM also has a defined production status of end-of-life, while the 3610QE's status is blank.

Release dates separate the pair by roughly five months: the 3610QE launched on 2012-04-28, and the 3630QM on 2012-09-29. The 3630QM has a launch MSRP of $378, which can be stated once as a reference point. The 3610QE has no recorded launch MSRP. Both share the same socket, TDP of 45 W, integrated graphics, cache layout, and lack of ECC support.

Where Each One Wins

The 3610QE is the Cinebench champion. It wins every rendering-oriented test by nearly identical margins: 3.9% in R15 multicore, 4.9% in R15 single-core, 3.9% in R20 multicore, 3.9% in R20 single-core, 3.9% in R23 multicore, and 3.7% in R23 single-core. If a workload relies on Cinebench's specific rendering pipeline, the 3610QE is the clear choice, delivering consistent small but repeatable advantages.

The 3630QM takes the Geekbench crown with larger margins. Its 7.4% multicore lead and 11.5% single-core lead are more pronounced than any of the 3610QE's wins. For applications that mirror Geekbench's mixed workload—combining compression, cryptography, image processing, and language parsing—the 3630QM's higher clock speeds pay off substantially. The 3630QM also offers the more complete specification sheet, including explicit memory bandwidth and PCIe details, which may matter for system integration.

The average scores tell a nuanced story: the 3610QE edges ahead overall by 0.6%, but that aggregate number masks the divergent strengths. Users prioritizing Cinebench-family benchmarks will prefer the 3610QE; users whose workloads resemble Geekbench will see better results from the 3630QM. The 35th percentile ranking for both indicates neither is a high-end part by modern standards, but within this pairing, the choice depends entirely on the target application.

The Verdict

The data supports a split decision. The Intel Core i7-3610QE is the pick for Cinebench-centric rendering tasks, where it wins all six Cinebench comparisons with margins ranging from 3.7% to 4.9%. Its consistency across R15, R20, and R23—both multicore and single-core—indicates a stable advantage that should hold across similar rendering workloads.

The Intel Core i7-3630QM is the better choice for Geekbench-style general productivity, where its 11.5% single-core and 7.4% multicore leads are decisive. Its higher base and boost clocks (2.40/3.40 GHz versus 2.30/3.30 GHz) align with this performance profile. The 3630QM also comes with a complete specification sheet, including DDR3 support, 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, making it the more fully documented part.

Neither processor dominates. The 3610QE's average benchmark score of 1297 is only 0.6% above the 3630QM's 1289, and both sit at the 35th percentile. The 3610QE is the Cinebench specialist; the 3630QM is the Geekbench generalist. Choose based on the benchmark suite that matches your workload, not on raw specifications—the clocks suggest the 3630QM should be faster, but the data proves that is only half the story.