Core i7-2760QM vs Core i3-8121U
Core i7-2760QM
Core i3-8121U
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 i7-2760QM is positioned at rank 249 and the Core i3-8121U is on rank 166, so the Core i3-8121U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2760QM
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8121U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2760QM | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2760QM | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-2760QM and Core i3-8121U
Core i7-2760QM
The Core i7-2760QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,313 points. Launch price was $378.
Core i3-8121U
The Core i3-8121U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 May 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,271 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2760QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-8121U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-2760QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-2760QM versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8121U — a 9% clock advantage for the Core i7-2760QM (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-2760QM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8121U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2760QM scores 4,313 against the Core i3-8121U's 4,271 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-2760QM. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-2760QM vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8121U.
| Feature | Core i7-2760QM | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 10 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,313 | 4,271 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,178 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2760QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8121U uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Core i7-2760QM versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8121U — the Core i7-2760QM supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i7-2760QM) and SoC (Core i3-8121U).
| Feature | Core i7-2760QM | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+39900% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 32 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-8121U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-2760QM) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8121U). The Core i7-2760QM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Core i3-8121U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8121U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-2760QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX; Core i3-8121U rivals Core i3-8130U.
| Feature | Core i7-2760QM | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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