Intel Core i7-3687U vs Intel Pentium G4520 Comparison

Where Each One Wins - use-case split based on benchmark results. The data shows a 5: The Pentium G4520. The Core i7-3687U. The Pentium G4520 wins all head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the real-world split is more nuanced.

The Intel Pentium G4520 takes the win in every recorded Cinebench test. The multi-core results are consistently ahead: 227 versus 224 in Cinebench R15, 949 versus 937 in R20, and 2261 versus 2231 in R23. The single-core margins are similarly narrow, with the Pentium leading 133 to 132 in R20 single-core and 319 to 315 in R23 single-core. The largest delta across all tests is just 1.3%, which makes this a close fight in raw rendering workloads.

The Intel Core i7-3687U does have one exclusive benchmark that the Pentium G4520 simply does not have in the database: Geekbench. The i7-3687U records 1044 in Geekbench multi-core and 526 in single-core. Since the Pentium has no Geekbench result, the mobile chip holds an uncontested advantage in that specific metric, even though the Cinebench suite favors the desktop part.

For use-case selection, the data suggests the Pentium G4520 is better suited for desktop tasks where sustained multi-threaded rendering is the priority. The Core i7-3687U, despite losing all shared benchmarks, remains the only option with a recorded Geekbench score, which may indicate better optimization for certain mixed workloads or legacy application compatibility. The percentile placement for both is identical at 21 percent against all CPUs, meaning neither part escapes the entry-level tier, but the Pentium edges ahead in every test where both have data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The Pentium G4520 uses the Skylake architecture built on a 14 nm process, while the Core i7-3687U uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node. This is a meaningful generational gap: the Pentium is two architecture steps ahead, which explains how it manages to win despite having fewer threads.

The transistor counts reinforce the process difference. The Pentium G4520 has 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die, while the Core i7-3687U has no recorded transistor count but a smaller 118 mm² die. The newer 14 nm process allows the desktop chip to pack more transistors into a larger die, while the mobile chip relies on an older, less dense process.

Core and thread counts differ in a crucial way. The Pentium G4520 has 2 cores and 2 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. The Core i7-3687U also has 2 cores but 4 threads, effectively doubling its logical execution resources. This is the classic trade-off: the desktop Pentium runs at a much higher base clock of 3.60 GHz with no boost, while the mobile i7 runs at 2.10 GHz base and boosts up to 3.30 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are identical in structure: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The memory support differs, with the Pentium accepting both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, while the i7 is limited to DDR3 only. The Pentium also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the i7 has no bandwidth figure in the database.

The integrated graphics are from different generations. The Pentium G4520 pairs with Intel HD 530, while the Core i7-3687U uses Intel HD 4000. The desktop chip also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the mobile chip has no PCIe data recorded. The Pentium uses socket Intel Socket 1151, the i7 uses Intel BGA 1023, confirming the desktop versus mobile split. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false) and both lack ECC memory support. The production status for the Pentium is Active, while the i7 has no status recorded. Release dates differ by over two years, with the Pentium launching in August 2015 and the i7 in January 2013.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3687U has 4 threads on 2 cores, while the Intel Pentium G4520 has 2 threads on 2 cores. The i7 benefits from Hyper-Threading, giving it double the logical thread count.

Q: Do they share the same cache layout?

A: Yes, both processors have identical cache structures: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. There is no difference in cache capacity between the two.

Q: Which CPU has the newer integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 has Intel HD 530, which is a newer generation than the Intel HD 4000 found in the Core i7-3687U. The Pentium's graphics come from the Skylake generation.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Pentium G4520 has a fixed base clock of 3.60 GHz with no boost. The Core i7-3687U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Pentium runs faster in sustained workloads, but the i7 can boost close to that level when needed.

Q: Which CPU has a lower TDP?

A: The Core i7-3687U has a TDP of 17 watts, while the Pentium G4520 has a TDP of 51 watts. The mobile i7 is designed for power efficiency, while the desktop Pentium draws significantly more power.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core i7-3687U wins?

A: The i7-3687U has a Geekbench result (1044 multi-core, 526 single-core) that the Pentium G4520 does not have in the database. In all shared Cinebench tests, the Pentium G4520 wins with margins ranging from 0.8% to 1.3%.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ according to the recorded data.

| Specification | Intel Pentium G4520 | Intel Core i7-3687U |

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

| Threads | 2 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 51 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1023 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 150 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 530 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2015-08-31 | 2013-01-07 |

| Part Number | SR2HM | SR0XH |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the Pentium G4520 wins all of them. The margins are tight but consistent, pointing to a small but real performance advantage for the desktop chip.

The largest relative win for the Pentium G4520 comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 227 against the i7-3687U's 224. That is a 1.3% delta. The same 1.3% margin appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (949 versus 937) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2261 versus 2231). The pattern is striking: regardless of the Cinebench version, the multi-core gap stays fixed at 1.3%. This suggests the Pentium's higher clock speed fully compensates for the i7's extra two threads in multi-threaded rendering.

Single-core results are even closer. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium scores 133 versus 132, a 0.8% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium scores 319 versus 315, returning to a 1.3% delta. The single-core wins are expected, as the Pentium's 3.60 GHz base clock is well above the i7's 2.10 GHz base and even above its 3.30 GHz boost.

The Core i7-3687U does not win any of the five recorded head-to-head tests. However, its Geekbench results (1044 multi-core, 526 single-core) stand as unopposed data points, since the Pentium has no Geekbench scores in the database. This absence prevents a direct comparison in that benchmark family.

Interpreting the results, the Pentium G4520's advantage in every shared test is measurable but modest. A 1.3% lead in multi-core workloads is within run-to-run variance for many applications, but the consistency across three different Cinebench versions indicates a genuine edge. The i7-3687U's 4 threads do not overcome the clock deficit, and the older Ivy Bridge architecture cannot match Skylake's per-clock efficiency. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering, the Pentium G4520 is the pick. For those needing Geekbench-validated performance, the Core i7-3687U offers the only recorded data, though its overall percentile ranking ties the Pentium at 21 percent.