Intel Core i7-3615QE

The Intel Core i7-3615QE is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor from Intel’s Ivy Bridge generation, built on a 22 nm process. It runs at a 2.30 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost clock, with a 45 W TDP, and integrates Intel HD 4000 graphics. In the observed benchmark database, it holds an aggregate average score of 1381, which places it at the 37th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest measured rivals are all within 0.2% of that aggregate score, so the data describes a processor sitting in a remarkably tight performance cluster.

Benchmark Performance

The recorded Cinebench results form the core of the performance picture. In Cinebench R15, the chip scores 481 points in multi-core and 67 points in single-core. In Cinebench R20, those numbers become 2006 multi-core and 283 single-core. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 4777 and the single-core score is 674. These are the only benchmark records in the fact pack, and they consistently show a processor that is more competitive in multi-threaded work than in single-threaded work.

The aggregate average benchmark score is 1381. That places the chip at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, meaning a majority of the processors in the database score higher on average. Yet the nearest rivals are almost shockingly close to this part. The Intel Core i7-2600K has an average score of 1380 and a delta of 0.1%, meaning the 3615QE sits 0.1% above it. The AMD Opteron 6238 scores 1383, putting the 3615QE 0.1% below it. The AMD Opteron 6366 HE scores 1379, again a 0.1% gap in favor of the Intel chip. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U scores 1379, giving the 3615QE a 0.2% lead.

These deltas are tiny. The aggregate score of 1381 puts this mobile, soldered Ivy Bridge part in the same statistical neighborhood as desktop and server chips from different eras and markets. The 37th percentile tempers that: while the nearest rivals are effectively tied, the overall position is still below the midpoint of the database. Benchmarks from Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 all point to a part that is not near the top of the charts but is very consistent with the small group of processors immediately around it.

Power and Thermals

The thermal specification is straightforward: the fact pack lists TDP at 45 W. That is a notable figure for a mobile chip, because it places the processor in a performance-oriented power envelope rather than an ultra-low-power one. The 22 nm manufacturing process and the die details, 1,400 million transistors in a 160 mm² die, suggest a dense, mid-generation Intel design. The base clock of 2.30 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz sit inside that 45 W envelope.

The cooling tier implied by a 45 W TDP is one designed for active cooling in a notebook chassis. The data does not list load temperatures or cooler requirements, but the TDP class alone indicates that passive or fanless cooling would be a poor match for sustained all-core work. The processor’s mobile segment and BGA socket reinforce that it was intended for a complete laptop thermal solution, not a user-serviceable desktop cooler. The fact pack gives no further thermal details, so a precise cooling assessment is not possible from the data, but 45 W is a concrete power-class anchor.

How It Compares

The Intel Core i7-2600K is the closest desktop analog in the recorded data. Its average score is 1380, and the 3615QE is 0.1% ahead. This is effectively a tie in aggregate performance. The fact that a mobile BGA chip from the Ivy Bridge generation can match a desktop K-series part in this benchmark group is one of the most interesting facts in the data.

The AMD Opteron 6238 is the only rival in the nearest group that leads the 3615QE. It averages 1383, meaning the 3615QE trails by 0.1%. The margin is so small that the two processors are indistinguishable in this aggregate metric. The Opteron is aimed at a different market segment, yet the benchmark data places it in the same cluster.

The AMD Opteron 6366 HE averages 1379. The 3615QE is 0.1% ahead. Again, the difference is negligible. The “HE” suffix likely indicates an efficiency-oriented variant, but the fact pack does not include its power figures, only its average score and delta.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U averages 1379. The 3615QE leads that part by 0.2%, which is the largest delta among the four listed rivals. Even this largest margin is still less than a quarter of a percent. Across all four rivals, the data shows a processor whose aggregate position is not defined by any decisive advantage or disadvantage, but by near-exact parity with a mixed set of desktop, server, and mobile CPUs.

Platform and Compatibility

The 3615QE uses the Intel BGA 1023 socket and is categorized in the mobile market segment. The architecture is Ivy Bridge, the codename is Ivy Bridge, and the generation is listed as Core i7 (Ivy Bridge). The process node is 22 nm. The part number is SR0NC.

For memory, the fact pack lists a dual-channel memory bus and ECC memory support as false. Specific memory types are not recorded, so the data cannot confirm which DDR generation or capacities are supported. The integrated graphics is Intel HD 4000, which is part of the platform package.

PCIe information is absent from the fact pack. No lanes, version, or configuration are listed, so any PCIe capability must be treated as undocumented. The same applies to the upgrade path: the fact pack does not describe socket compatibility beyond the BGA 1023 listing. Because the socket is BGA and the segment is mobile, the implied platform is one where the processor is mounted directly to the board rather than inserted into a replaceable socket. This points to a board-level or whole-system upgrade path rather than a simple CPU swap.

Who Should Consider It

For office workloads, the 3615QE appears workable. A 4-core, 8-thread configuration with dual-channel memory and a 2.30 GHz base clock is enough for everyday productivity tasks, and the 37th percentile ranking is not a barrier to basic responsiveness. The single-core R23 score of 674 suggests that lighter, less parallel workloads will run without severe difficulty, though the chip is not fast by modern standards.

For gaming, the data is more cautious. Cinebench scores are not frame rates, but the R23 single-core score of 674 and multi-core score of 4777 are modest. Games that rely heavily on single-thread performance will be limited by the single-core results. Older or less demanding titles may be acceptable, but the overall percentile position of 37 does not suggest a strong gaming part.

For content creation, the multi-core scores tell a clearer story. The R23 multi-core score of 4777 shows that the chip can use all eight threads, but the absolute result is low enough that heavy rendering or video encoding would be slow compared to higher-ranked CPUs. Light creation tasks, such as photo editing or occasional encoding, are more realistic. The processor is best suited to users whose workloads are mostly threaded but not extremely demanding, or those running legacy software that matches the era of the platform.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread behavior is one of the clearest patterns in the fact pack. In Cinebench R15, the single-core score is 67 and the multi-core score is 481. In R20, the single-core score is 283 and the multi-core score is 2006. In R23, the single-core score is 674 and the multi-core score is 4777. In every case, the multi-core result is far larger than the single-core result.

That pattern reflects the architecture: four cores and eight threads. Workloads that can spread across all threads will see a substantial benefit relative to single-threaded tasks. The low single-core scores, however, mean that tasks relying on one or two fast cores will not take advantage of the multi-thread capability. Interactive applications, many older games, and certain productivity tools depend heavily on single-thread speed, and the 674 R23 single-core score puts the processor well down the overall distribution.

This creates a workload-dependent profile. In heavily parallel jobs, the 3615QE behaves like a lower-mid-range eight-thread processor, matching its aggregate score and rival cluster. In serial, latency-sensitive tasks, it behaves like a much weaker chip. The data implies that the processor rewards users who can parallelize their workloads and punishes those who cannot.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Core i7-3615QE?

A: The TDP is 45 W.

Q: Does the i7-3615QE support ECC memory?

A: No, the fact pack lists ECC memory support as false.

Q: What integrated graphics does it include?

A: It includes Intel HD 4000.

Q: What socket does the i7-3615QE use?

A: It uses Intel BGA 1023.

Q: How does the i7-3615QE compare to the Intel Core i7-2600K?

A: The i7-2600K has an average score of 1380, while the i7-3615QE has an average score of 1381, so the 3615QE is 0.1% ahead in aggregate benchmark performance.

Q: When was the i7-3615QE released?

A: The release date is 2012-04-28.