Core i7-2600 vs Core i7-4712HQ
Core i7-2600
Core i7-4712HQ
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 i7-2600 is positioned at rank 835 and the Core i7-4712HQ is on rank 62, so the Core i7-4712HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2600
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4712HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Core i7-4712HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Core i7-4712HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-2600 and Core i7-4712HQ
Core i7-2600
The Core i7-2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,346 points. Launch price was $247.
Core i7-4712HQ
The Core i7-4712HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,350 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-2600 and Core i7-4712HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-4712HQ — a 14.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-2600 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4712HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2600 scores 5,346 against the Core i7-4712HQ's 5,350 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-4712HQ. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-2600 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4712HQ.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i7-4712HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+15% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+48% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Crystalwell (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,346 | 5,350 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,648 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 659 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,169 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2600 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-4712HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i7-4712HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1364 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2600) / not specified (Core i7-4712HQ). The Core i7-2600 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Core i7-4712HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600 rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i7-4712HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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