Intel Core i7-4910MQ vs Intel Core i7-990X Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4910MQ has an average benchmark score of 1716, while the Intel Core i7-990X scores 1713. The difference is 0.2%, placing the two within a rounding error of each other in aggregate performance.

Q: Which processor wins more individual head-to-head tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X wins 6 of the 8 benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-4910MQ wins 2. However, the 4910MQ's two wins are decisive, including a 100.7% margin in single-core Geekbench.

Q: What is the most significant single-core performance gap?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Intel Core i7-4910MQ scores 1116 versus 556 for the 990X, a delta of 100.7%. This is the largest margin in either direction across all tests.

Q: Are these chips in the same performance percentile?

A: The 4910MQ sits at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, while the 990X sits at the 40th. Their nearest rival lists overlap, with each listing the other as a near-identical competitor.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X has 6 cores and 12 threads, compared to 4 cores and 8 threads on the 4910MQ. This advantage shows in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, where the 990X leads by roughly 12% across all versions.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory configuration?

A: Both support DDR3, but the 4910MQ uses dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the 990X uses triple-channel memory. The 990X's memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-4910MQ is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, packing 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-990X, by contrast, uses the older Westmere architecture (codename Gulftown) on a 32 nm process, with 1,170 million transistors spread across a larger 239 mm² die. The newer process node gives the 4910MQ a transistor density advantage despite having fewer cores.

The 4910MQ is a mobile processor designed for Socket G3 with a 47 W TDP, while the 990X is a desktop part for Socket 1366 with a 130 W TDP. This nearly threefold TDP difference reflects the fundamental design targets: the 4910MQ prioritizes power efficiency for laptops, while the 990X is an unlocked, Extreme-series desktop chip.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 990X has 12 MB of shared L3 versus 8 MB on the 4910MQ. The 990X's extra cores and larger L3 give it an edge in cache-heavy workloads, though the 4910MQ compensates with a newer memory controller and PCIe Gen 3 support (16 lanes CPU-only) versus the 990X's PCIe Gen 2.

Integrated graphics are present only on the 4910MQ, with Intel HD 4600. The 990X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The 4910MQ also supports dual-channel DDR3 with a listed bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the 990X uses triple-channel DDR3 with no bandwidth figure provided. Both lack ECC memory support.

The 990X has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the 4910MQ is locked. Release dates are far apart: the 4910MQ launched on 2014-01-19, while the 990X launched on 2011-02-23. The 4910MQ carries a launch MSRP of $570; no launch MSRP is listed for the 990X.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite uniformly favors the Intel Core i7-990X across all versions and both single- and multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 990X scores 611 against 536 for the 4910MQ, a 12.3% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 86 versus 75, a 12.8% delta. This pattern repeats exactly in R20 and R23, with the 990X maintaining a 12.3% lead in both multi-core and single-core iterations. For R20, scores are 2549 versus 2236 multi-core and 359 versus 315 single-core. R23 shows 6071 versus 5326 multi-core and 857 versus 752 single-core.

The consistency of the Cinebench margins suggests a structural advantage for the 990X in rendering workloads. The 12.3% multi-core lead aligns with the 990X having 50% more physical cores (6 versus 4) and 50% more threads (12 versus 8). Even the single-core Cinebench advantage, which ranges from 12.3% to 12.8%, points to the 990X's higher base clock of 3.47 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, despite the 4910MQ's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.73 GHz.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, the 4910MQ scores 3368 versus 2612 for the 990X, a 28.9% lead. Even more striking, Geekbench single-core shows the 4910MQ at 1116 versus 556, a 100.7% margin — more than double the 990X's score. This dramatic divergence between Cinebench and Geekbench likely reflects the architectural improvements in Haswell's execution engine, which benefit Geekbench's specific workload mix far more than Cinebench's.

The aggregate picture is one of near-total parity. The 4910MQ's average benchmark score of 1716 versus 1713 for the 990X, with a delta of 0.2%, means the two chips land on the same performance tier despite their completely different designs. The 990X wins six benchmarks, but the 4910MQ's two wins include the largest single margin in the entire comparison.

The Verdict

The data presents a split verdict that depends entirely on workload type. The Intel Core i7-990X is the clear winner in Cinebench rendering workloads, maintaining a consistent 12.3% lead in multi-core tests and a 12.3-12.8% edge in single-core tests. For any application that resembles Cinebench's rendering pipeline, the 990X's six cores and 12 threads provide a measurable advantage.

The Intel Core i7-4910MQ, however, dominates Geekbench. Its 28.9% multi-core lead and 100.7% single-core lead in that suite indicate a fundamentally more efficient per-core architecture. The Haswell design's newer process node and improved instruction handling make it substantially faster in Geekbench-style synthetic workloads.

For users prioritizing rendering performance, the 990X's Cinebench results make it the data-supported choice. For those running Geekbench-like applications or requiring integrated graphics and mobile form factors, the 4910MQ is the only viable option — the 990X has no integrated GPU and is a desktop-only chip.

The 4910MQ's 47 W TDP versus the 990X's 130 W TDP further reinforces that the 4910MQ is designed for power-constrained environments. The 990X's unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom that the locked 4910MQ cannot match. Ultimately, the average benchmark scores differ by only 0.2%, so the choice hinges on which benchmark suite better represents the target workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4910MQ | Intel Core i7-990X |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.73 GHz |

| TDP | 47 W | 130 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G3 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Westmere |

| Codename | Haswell | Gulftown |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 239 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $570 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR1PT | SLBVZ |

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-990X — Rendering and multi-threaded workloads. The 990X wins all six Cinebench tests, with a uniform 12.3% margin in multi-core tests across R15, R20, and R23. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a higher 3.47 GHz base clock and 12 MB of L3 cache, make it the stronger choice for CPU-bound rendering tasks. The unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which could extend its lead further in any workload.

Intel Core i7-4910MQ — Synthetic single-core and mobile applications. The 4910MQ wins Geekbench single-core by 100.7% and multi-core by 28.9%, demonstrating superior per-core efficiency from the Haswell architecture. Its integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU, and its 47 W TDP makes it suitable for laptops. The 25.6 GB/s dual-channel memory bandwidth is explicitly listed, while the 990X's bandwidth is not, suggesting better memory throughput documentation.

Use-case split: For a desktop rendering workstation where power draw is irrelevant and overclocking is desired, the 990X's Cinebench dominance makes it the data-backed pick. For a mobile system or any workload aligned with Geekbench's testing methodology, the 4910MQ's massive single-core advantage and integrated graphics provide a clear functional edge. The 0.2% average score difference means neither chip is definitively superior overall — the choice is workload-dependent.