Intel Core i7-3520M vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Core i7-3520M or Intel Core i7-3520M – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i7-3520M features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2012 and belongs to the 3 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-3520M, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA 1023 socket.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2007 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Core2 Extreme series.
To use the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 775 socket.
Mobile Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Core i7-3520M Name Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800
Intel Core i7 Family Intel Core2 Extreme
3 Generation 1
Intel Core i 3000M Group Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6000
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-3520M has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-3520M is 2.9 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 3.6 GHz.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 is 2.93 GHz
3.6 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) None
No Overclocking Yes
normal Core architecture normal
2.9 GHz Frequency 2.93 GHz
4 Threads 4
3.4 GHz Turbo Frequency (all cores) None
Yes Hyperthreading No
2 CPU Cores 4
2x Cores 4x
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i7-3520M has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i7-3520M uses the Intel HD Graphics 4000, which has 128 texture shaders
and 16 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 does not have integrated graphics.
0.65 GHz GPU frequency --
Q1/2011 Release date --
11.0 Direct X --
Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU name
22 nm Technology --
-- Max. displays --
128 Shaders --
2.0 GB Max. GPU Memory 0 bytes
16 Execution units --
7 Generation --
1.25 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Decode / Encode AVC --
Decode VC-1 --
No VP9 --
No h265 / HEVC (10 bit) --
Decode / Encode h264 --
No VP8 --
No h265 / HEVC (8 bit) --
Decode JPEG --
No AV1 --
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 32.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
2 Memory channels 2
32.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
pci PCIe pci
Yes AES-NI No
No ECC No
25.6 GB/s Bandwidth --
DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1333, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR2-800
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 35 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 130 W watts.
-- Tjunction max --
35 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 130 W
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-3520M is manufactured using a 22 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 4.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 is manufactured using a 65 nm process.
Q2/2012 Release date Q2/2007
-- Part Number --
0 bytes L2-Cache 8.0 MB
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization VT-x
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE3, MMX, SSE2
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
Ivy Bridge H Architecture Kentsfield (Core)
22 nm Technology 65 nm
BGA 1023 Socket LGA 775
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
346 $ Release price --
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
4.0 MB L3-Cache 0 bytes