Core i7-2635QM vs Core i7-6650U
Core i7-2635QM
Core i7-6650U
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 i7-2635QM is positioned at rank 1096 and the Core i7-6650U is on rank 436, so the Core i7-6650U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2635QM
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6650U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2635QM | Core i7-6650U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2635QM | Core i7-6650U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ 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 i7-2635QM and Core i7-6650U
Core i7-2635QM
The Core i7-2635QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1224. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,541 points. Launch price was $378.
Core i7-6650U
The Core i7-6650U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,557 points. Launch price was $415.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2635QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-6650U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-2635QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i7-2635QM versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-6650U — a 15.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-6650U (base: 2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-2635QM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-6650U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2635QM scores 3,541 against the Core i7-6650U's 3,557 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-6650U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-2635QM vs 4 MB on the Core i7-6650U.
| Feature | Core i7-2635QM | Core i7-6650U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.4 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.2 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,541 | 3,557 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2635QM uses the FCBGA1224 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-6650U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2635QM | Core i7-6650U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1224 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i7-2635QM) / not specified (Core i7-6650U). The Core i7-2635QM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Core i7-6650U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2635QM targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i7-2635QM | Core i7-6650U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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