Intel Core i7-3615QM vs Intel Pentium Silver N6005 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3615QM and the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 represent two very different approaches to mobile computing, separated by nearly a decade of silicon evolution. The database records show that while the older i7 has more threads and a larger power envelope, the newer Pentium Silver matches or slightly exceeds it in most CPU-bound tests. A closer look at the recorded data reveals a fascinating split: the Pentium Silver wins seven of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, yet the Core i7 secures a decisive victory in the Geekbench multicore test. This benchmark database analysis outlines the architectural foundations, specification differences, and measured performance of both processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QM has a higher average benchmark score of 1260, compared to the Intel Pentium Silver N6005's average score of 1218. Both processors sit at the 34th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 edges out the Intel Core i7-3615QM with a score of 4444 versus 4393, a delta of 1.1 percent in favor of the Pentium Silver.

Q: Which processor shows a significant win in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QM wins the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 1907, which is 29.8 percent higher than the Intel Pentium Silver N6005's score of 1469.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in L2 cache configuration?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QM has 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has a shared 1.5 MB L2 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz, whereas the Intel Core i7-3615QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz. Both boost to 3.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is stark. The Intel Core i7-3615QM is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process node. It integrates 1,400 million transistors within a die size of 160 mm². This is a high-performance mobile design from 2012, featuring 4 cores and 8 threads, allowing for simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Pentium Silver N6005, by contrast, uses the Tremont architecture under the Jasper Lake codename. This newer design is built on a 10 nm process node and has a significantly smaller die size of 63.8 mm². It is a 4-core, 4-thread processor without hyper-threading, reflecting a design philosophy focused on power efficiency for compact and fanless systems.

Cache hierarchies also differ considerably. The Core i7-3615QM uses a traditional per-core layout: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The Pentium Silver N6005 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 cache is a shared 1.5 MB, and its L3 cache is 4 MB shared. The shift to a shared L2 design in the Pentium Silver reflects a simpler, more power-optimized memory structure. Both processors support dual-channel memory, but only the Pentium Silver has explicit memory support listed for DDR4 and LPDDR4, along with a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Core i7's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database.

Feature sets differ as well. The Core i7-3615QM includes an integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics unit, while the Pentium Silver N6005 comes with UHD Graphics 32EU. The Pentium Silver also lists PCIe support as Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Core i7 has no PCIe information recorded. Production status is another distinction: the Pentium Silver N6005 is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i7-3615QM has no production status listed. The release date for the Core i7 is recorded as 2012-04-28, while the Pentium Silver has no release date in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture for different use cases. If the workload is heavily multithreaded and leverages more than four threads, the Intel Core i7-3615QM is the stronger choice. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1907 is 29.8 percent ahead of the Pentium Silver's 1469, which is a substantial margin. This advantage likely stems from its 8 threads, which allow it to handle parallel tasks more efficiently than the 4-thread Pentium Silver.

For general single-threaded performance and most Cinebench workloads, the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 is the better pick. It wins all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, albeit by slim margins of 1.1 to 1.6 percent. It also wins the Geekbench single-core test by 1.8 percent. The Pentium Silver achieves this with a TDP of 10 watts versus the Core i7's 45 watts, making it a far more power-efficient solution for sustained workloads in thermally constrained devices.

The data suggests that users who need maximum parallel throughput for specific applications should select the Core i7-3615QM. Users who prioritize efficiency, single-thread responsiveness, and modern platform features should choose the Pentium Silver N6005. The Pentium Silver's near-universal victory in the head-to-head benchmarks, despite its lower thread count, indicates that the newer Tremont architecture provides a more efficient execution engine per core.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification in the database. The Intel Core i7-3615QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz. Both share a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Core i7 has 8 threads compared to the Pentium Silver's 4 threads, a direct result of its hyper-threading capability. The TDP is a major differentiator: 45 watts for the Core i7 versus 10 watts for the Pentium Silver.

The socket types are incompatible: the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1224, while the Pentium Silver uses Intel BGA 1338. The process node is 22 nm for the Core i7 and 10 nm for the Pentium Silver. The transistor count is listed only for the Core i7 at 1,400 million, with a die size of 160 mm², versus the Pentium Silver's 63.8 mm². Cache layouts differ: the Core i7 has 256 KB of L2 per core and a 6 MB shared L3, while the Pentium Silver has a shared 1.5 MB L2 and a 4 MB shared L3.

Memory specifications also diverge. The Pentium Silver explicitly supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the Core i7 lists no memory support or bandwidth. The Pentium Silver has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), which is not listed for the Core i7. Integrated graphics are different: Intel HD 4000 for the Core i7 versus UHD Graphics 32EU for the Pentium Silver. The part numbers are SR0MP for the Core i7 and SRKGU for the Pentium Silver. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a dominant performance profile for the Intel Pentium Silver N6005, winning seven of the eight recorded tests. The only loss is a significant one. The Geekbench multicore test is the standout win for the Intel Core i7-3615QM, with a score of 1907 against the Pentium Silver's 1469, resulting in a 29.8 percent delta. This is the largest performance gap in any test and represents the Core i7's sole victory.

All other benchmarks are extremely close, with the Pentium Silver taking narrow leads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Pentium Silver scores 447 versus 442 for the Core i7, a 1.1 percent difference. The R15 single-core test sees the Pentium Silver ahead at 63 to 62, a 1.6 percent margin. Cinebench R20 results are consistent: the Pentium Silver wins multicore 1866 to 1845 and single-core 263 to 260, both by 1.1 percent. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern, with the Pentium Silver scoring 4444 versus 4393 in multicore and 627 versus 620 in single-core, again a 1.1 percent delta for both. The Geekbench single-core test is another narrow win for the Pentium Silver, 564 to 554, a 1.8 percent margin.

These results indicate that the Pentium Silver's architecture provides a small but consistent performance edge in both single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The Core i7's advantage is exclusively in the Geekbench multicore test, where its additional threads allow it to outperform the Pentium Silver by a wide margin. The recorded data shows that the Pentium Silver is not merely competitive; it is the better overall performer in the majority of measured scenarios, despite having half the threads.