Intel Core i7-3610QM vs Intel Pentium Silver N6005 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3610QM and Intel Pentium Silver N6005 are both end-of-life mobile processors, but they represent two very different design philosophies. The i7-3610QM is a 45W quad-core from the Ivy Bridge era, while the Pentium Silver N6005 is a 10W Tremont-based chip. Despite a decade of architectural separation, benchmark results show a surprisingly close contest in most rendering workloads, with the older i7 taking a decisive victory in one specific test. The data reveals a clear split: the Pentium wins in raw compute consistency, while the i7 wins in a specific multi-threaded scenario.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a picture of a narrow but consistent victory for the Pentium Silver N6005 in the Cinebench suite. Across all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core), the N6005 posts higher scores. The margins are small—each win is between 1.5% and 1.6%—but they are uniform. This means that in sustained CPU rendering tasks, the Pentium Silver N6005 is the more capable processor. The i7-3610QM’s advantage is concentrated entirely in the Geekbench multi-core test, where it scores 1831 compared to the N6005’s 1469, a substantial 24.6% lead. For any workload that resembles the Geekbench multi-core mix, the older i7 is clearly superior. The single-core Geekbench test goes to the N6005 by 4.8%, reinforcing its edge in lightly-threaded tasks.

What this means practically is that the Pentium Silver N6005 is the better choice for users who need a balanced performer across a variety of CPU-intensive applications, especially those relying on Cinebench-style rendering. The i7-3610QM is the pick for software that leverages its specific multi-threaded architecture, as measured by Geekbench. The N6005 also has a major efficiency advantage, with a 10W TDP versus the i7’s 45W TDP, which is a critical factor for thermal and battery life considerations in a mobile chassis.

FAQ

Q: Is the Pentium Silver N6005 faster than the Core i7-3610QM?

A: In the majority of benchmark tests, yes. The N6005 wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. However, the i7-3610QM wins the Geekbench multi-core test by 24.6%.

Q: How big is the performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The gap is minimal. The N6005 scores 4444 in multi-core and 627 in single-core, compared to the i7-3610QM’s 4373 and 617, respectively. This represents a 1.6% lead for the N6005 in both tests.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Pentium Silver N6005. It wins the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests by 1.5-1.6%, and the Geekbench single-core test by 4.8%.

Q: Why does the Core i7-3610QM win the Geekbench multi-core test?

A: The i7-3610QM has 8 threads compared to the N6005’s 4 threads. The Geekbench multi-core benchmark appears to scale well with the i7’s additional threads, resulting in a 24.6% higher score (1831 vs 1469).

Q: Are these processors comparable in terms of power consumption?

A: No. The Pentium Silver N6005 has a 10W TDP, while the Core i7-3610QM has a 45W TDP. The N6005 is significantly more power-efficient.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i7-3610QM has an average benchmark score of 1244, placing it in the 34th percentile of all CPUs. The N6005 scores 1218 on average, also in the 34th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Geekbench multi-core test, where the Core i7-3610QM delivers a commanding 24.6% victory over the Pentium Silver N6005. The i7 scores 1831, while the N6005 manages only 1469. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and is likely attributable to the i7’s 8 threads versus the N6005’s 4 threads. For users running software that is optimized for high thread counts, this is the defining metric.

Outside of that single result, the Pentium Silver N6005 proves to be a remarkably consistent winner. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 447 against the i7’s 440, a 1.6% edge. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 63 vs 62, also a 1.6% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the N6005 scores 1866 in multi-core and 263 in single-core, beating the i7’s 1836 and 259 by 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Cinebench R23 shows the same trend, with the N6005 scoring 4444 and 627, versus the i7’s 4373 and 617, both 1.6% victories.

The Geekbench single-core test is the only other bright spot for the N6005, where it wins by a more noticeable 4.8% margin (564 vs 537). This suggests that the Tremont architecture has a superior single-threaded efficiency compared to the older Ivy Bridge design. The data shows a clear pattern: for most CPU-bound tasks, the N6005 is the winner, but the i7-3610QM has a specific and powerful advantage in heavily multi-threaded workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their core and thread configurations. The Intel Core i7-3610QM features 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the i7 can handle twice as many concurrent threads, which is a significant advantage for multitasking and threaded applications.

Clock speeds are another key difference. The i7-3610QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The N6005 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and the same boost clock of 3.30 GHz. While the boost clocks are identical, the i7 has a higher base clock.

The memory support also differs. The i7-3610QM supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a maximum bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The N6005 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory, also with a dual-channel bus, but offers a much higher maximum bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. This is a substantial difference that can impact memory-intensive workloads.

Socket and physical specifications are distinct as well. The i7-3610QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the N6005 uses Intel BGA 1338. The i7 has a TDP of 45W, compared to the N6005’s highly efficient 10W. The i7 also has more PCIe lanes, supporting Gen 3 with 16 lanes, whereas the N6005 supports Gen 3 with only 8 lanes.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is significant, reflecting the decade of progress between them. The Intel Core i7-3610QM is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It packs 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 160 mm². The Pentium Silver N6005 uses the newer Tremont architecture (codename Jasper Lake) and is fabricated on a smaller 10 nm process node. Its die size is just 63.8 mm², and the transistor count is not listed in the data.

Cache hierarchies are also structured differently. The i7-3610QM has a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and a per-core L2 cache of 256 KB, plus a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The N6005 also has a 64 KB per-core L1 cache, but its L2 cache is 1.5 MB shared, and its L3 cache is 4 MB shared. This indicates a different cache management strategy, with the N6005 sharing a larger L2 pool across all cores.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3610QM features Intel HD 4000, while the N6005 includes UHD Graphics 32EU. Both are mobile segments, and both lack ECC memory support. The i7 was released in April 2012 with a launch MSRP of $378; the N6005 has no release date or launch MSRP listed. The i7 is part of the Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation, while the N6005 is in the Pentium Silver (Tremont) generation.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear decision for most users: the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 is the better overall processor. It wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test, and does so while consuming just 10W compared to the i7-3610QM’s 45W. Its performance in single-core tests is consistently ahead, with margins up to 4.8% in Geekbench single-core. For general computing, rendering, and efficiency, the N6005 is the superior choice.

The only scenario where the Intel Core i7-3610QM is the clear winner is in the Geekbench multi-core test, where its 8 threads provide a 24.6% advantage (1831 vs 1469). If a user’s primary workload is heavily dependent on that specific type of multi-threaded scaling, the i7-3610QM is the better pick. However, this is a narrow use case. The i7 also has a higher base clock (2.30 GHz vs 2000.00 MHz) and more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8), which may be relevant for specific expansion needs.

In practical terms, the Pentium Silver N6005 offers a more balanced and efficient package. It delivers higher scores in the majority of tests, including all Cinebench versions, and does so with a fraction of the power draw. The i7-3610QM’s victory in one benchmark, while significant, does not outweigh the N6005’s consistency across the board. For a mobile system where battery life and thermals matter, the N6005 is the logical recommendation. For a user who specifically needs the multi-threaded performance measured by Geekbench, the i7-3610QM is the one to choose.