
Core i5-1030NG7 vs Core i7-3720QM

Core i5-1030NG7

Core i7-3720QM
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-1030NG7 is positioned at rank 734 and the Core i7-3720QM is on rank 50, so the Core i7-3720QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1030NG7
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3720QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-1030NG7 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-Y (2020) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-1030NG7 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1030NG7 and Core i7-3720QM

Core i5-1030NG7
The Core i5-1030NG7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 March 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake-Y (2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1044. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR4-3733. Passmark benchmark score: 5,600 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-3720QM
The Core i7-3720QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,591 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-1030NG7 and Core i7-3720QM share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-1030NG7 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-3720QM — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3720QM (base: 1.1 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-1030NG7 uses the Ice Lake-Y (2020) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-3720QM uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1030NG7 scores 5,600 against the Core i7-3720QM's 5,591 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-1030NG7. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-1030NG7 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 2.6 GHz+136% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-55% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-Y (2020) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,600 | 5,591 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,239 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-1030NG7 uses the BGA1044 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3720QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-1030NG7 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1044 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4-3733 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1030NG7) / not specified (Core i7-3720QM). The Core i5-1030NG7 includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics G7), while the Core i7-3720QM requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1030NG7 targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1030NG7 rivals Ryzen 5 4500U.
| Feature | Core i5-1030NG7 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus Graphics G7 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Thin & Light Laptop | — |
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