Intel Core i7-3820 vs Intel Core i7-4712HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4712HQ and Intel Core i7-3820 represent two distinct approaches to high-performance computing from different eras of Intel’s lineup. The i7-4712HQ is a 37-watt mobile part built on the 22 nm Haswell architecture, while the i7-3820 is a 130-watt desktop processor on the 32 nm Sandy Bridge-E platform. Despite the generational gap, benchmark results show the older desktop chip consistently outperforming the newer mobile chip across all tested workloads, yet the mobile part’s efficiency and integrated graphics give it a distinct identity. The data reveals a clear performance hierarchy, but the choice between them depends heavily on platform constraints and intended use.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3820 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six tests with a consistent margin. In multi-core workloads, it leads by roughly 8.3% to 8.5% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, while single-core results show a slightly narrower gap of 7.2% to 8.3%. This is a uniform victory for the desktop part, with no workload category favoring the mobile chip. The i7-4712HQ, by contrast, does not win a single test in the direct comparison, yet its strengths lie outside raw compute throughput.

The i7-4712HQ’s domain is efficiency and platform integration. With a TDP of 37 watts versus 130 watts, it delivers roughly 91% of the i7-3820’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score (4512 vs 4923) while consuming less than a third of the thermal budget. The mobile chip also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, whereas the i7-3820 has no integrated graphics at all. For systems requiring a compact, low-power footprint or those lacking a discrete GPU, the i7-4712HQ is the only viable option between the two. Its PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes also offers newer connectivity compared to the i7-3820’s PCIe Gen 2 with 40 lanes, though the desktop part provides far more expansion capacity.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built for entirely different sockets. The i7-4712HQ uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, while the i7-3820 uses Sandy Bridge-E on a 32 nm process with 1,270 million transistors on a larger 294 mm² die. The newer process node gives the mobile chip a denser, more power-efficient design, but the desktop part compensates with higher clock speeds and a larger cache.

Both processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads, with identical L1 and L2 cache configurations of 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively. The key cache difference lies in L3: the i7-4712HQ has 6 MB shared, while the i7-3820 has 10 MB shared. The i7-3820 also runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, substantially higher than the i7-4712HQ’s 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Memory support differs significantly as well: the i7-4712HQ uses dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-3820 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, exactly double the theoretical memory throughput.

The i7-3820 is built on Intel Socket 2011, a high-end desktop platform with 40 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, while the i7-4712HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, a soldered mobile socket with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The i7-3820 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the i7-4712HQ is locked. The i7-4712HQ includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the i7-3820 has none. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are end-of-life products, with the i7-4712HQ released in March 2014 and the i7-3820 in February 2012.

The Verdict

Based strictly on benchmark data, the i7-3820 is the superior processor for raw compute performance. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with multi-core advantages of 8.5% in Cinebench R15, 8.3% in R20, and 8.3% in R23. Single-core margins are 7.2% in R15 and 8.2% to 8.3% in R20 and R23. The desktop part’s higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache deliver consistent wins across every workload tested. Its unlocked multiplier and 40 PCIe lanes also make it more flexible for enthusiast systems, though it requires a discrete GPU.

The i7-4712HQ is the right choice for mobile or compact systems where power consumption and thermal output are critical constraints. Its 37-watt TDP makes it suitable for laptops or small-form-factor builds, and its integrated graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU in basic display tasks. The data shows it trails the i7-3820 by only 8-9% in Cinebench scores, a modest penalty for a massive reduction in power draw. Users who prioritize battery life, portability, or silent operation should choose the i7-4712HQ; users who need maximum throughput and have access to a desktop platform with discrete graphics should choose the i7-3820.

Both processors sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they offer similar overall positioning in the broader market. The i7-4712HQ’s average benchmark score is 1436, while the i7-3820’s is 1424, a difference of less than 1%. This near-identical average score, despite the i7-3820 winning every head-to-head test, reflects the fact that the mobile chip’s performance is more consistent across the benchmarks included in its average, while the desktop part’s wins are concentrated in the Cinebench suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-3820 wins all multi-core tests. It scores 496 vs 454 in Cinebench R15 (8.5% faster), 2067 vs 1895 in R20 (8.3% faster), and 4923 vs 4512 in R23 (8.3% faster).

Q: Does the i7-4712HQ have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 4600. The i7-3820 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i7-3820 uses quad-channel DDR3 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-4712HQ uses dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The desktop part has exactly double the theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The i7-3820 has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking. The i7-4712HQ has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-4712HQ has an average benchmark score of 1436, while the i7-3820 scores 1424. The difference is 0.8%, with the mobile chip slightly ahead in this aggregate metric despite losing all head-to-head tests.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The i7-3820 has 40 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, while the i7-4712HQ has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The desktop part offers more lanes but uses an older PCIe generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-3820’s dominance is consistent across all six benchmark comparisons, with no test where the i7-4712HQ manages to close the gap. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-3820 scores 69 vs 64, a 7.2% advantage. This is the only test where the margin falls below 8%, reflecting the relatively smaller impact of clock speed differences in single-threaded performance. The largest margins are 8.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (496 vs 454) and 8.3% across R20 and R23 tests, both multi-core and single-core.

The consistency of the 8.3% margin across R20 and R23 is notable. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-3820 scores 2067 against 1895, a delta of 8.3%. The same percentage appears in R20 single-core (291 vs 267), R23 multi-core (4923 vs 4512), and R23 single-core (695 vs 637). This uniformity suggests the performance difference scales linearly across workload types, driven primarily by the i7-3820’s higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 2.30 GHz) and boost clock (3.80 GHz vs 3.30 GHz). The 10 MB L3 cache on the desktop part may also contribute, but the consistent percentage points to clock speed as the dominant factor.

The i7-4712HQ’s best relative performance comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 7.2% gap is the narrowest. This aligns with the observation that single-threaded workloads are less sensitive to memory bandwidth differences, which favor the i7-3820’s quad-channel setup. In multi-core tests, the i7-3820’s memory bandwidth advantage of 51.2 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s may help sustain higher throughput, though the margin remains similar to single-core results. The data indicates that neither processor has a workload-specific strength that reverses the overall hierarchy; the i7-3820 is simply faster everywhere, while the i7-4712HQ trades that performance for a 93-watt lower TDP and integrated graphics.