Core i7-3635QM
VS
Core i5-6300HQ

Core i7-3635QM vs Core i5-6300HQ

Intel

Core i7-3635QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2012
VS
Intel

Core i5-6300HQ

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2015

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 i7-3635QM is positioned at rank 84 and the Core i5-6300HQ is on rank 212, so the Core i7-3635QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3635QM

#27
Core Ultra 7 265HX
MSRP: $450|Avg: N/A
92%
#72
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
248%
#73
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
245%
#74
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
225%
#75
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
224%
#76
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
221%
#78
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
214%
#79
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
205%
#80
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
205%
#81
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
199%
#84
Core i7-3635QM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#88
Core 2 Duo T7500
MSRP: $316|Avg: $5
98%
#98
N150
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $128
92%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6300HQ

#57
Ryzen AI 9 365
MSRP: $400|Avg: $400
97%
#200
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
377%
#201
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
371%
#202
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
341%
#203
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
339%
#204
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
336%
#206
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
325%
#207
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
311%
#208
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
311%
#209
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
302%
#212
Core i5-6300HQ
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i7-3635QM delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i5-6300HQ in both compute-intensive tasks (1.2% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCore i7-3635QMCore i5-6300HQ
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCore i7-3635QMCore i5-6300HQ
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i7-3635QM and Core i5-6300HQ

Intel

Core i7-3635QM

The Core i7-3635QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1224. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,728 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Core i5-6300HQ

The Core i5-6300HQ 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,672 points. Launch price was $250.

Processing Power

The Core i7-3635QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-6300HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-3635QM versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-6300HQ — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-3635QM (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-3635QM uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-6300HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3635QM scores 4,728 against the Core i5-6300HQ's 4,672 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i7-3635QM. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-3635QM vs 6 MB on the Core i5-6300HQ.

FeatureCore i7-3635QMCore i5-6300HQ
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+6%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.4 GHz+4%
2.3 GHz
L3 Cache
6 MB (total)
6 MB
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
1 MB+300%
Process
22 nm
14 nm-36%
Architecture
Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark
4,728+1%
4,672
Geekbench 6 Single
1,000
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-3635QM uses the FCBGA1224 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-6300HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-3635QMCore i5-6300HQ
Socket
FCBGA1224
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-3635QM) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-6300HQ). The Core i5-6300HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Core i7-3635QM requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-6300HQ targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-6300HQ rivals A12-9730P.

FeatureCore i7-3635QMCore i5-6300HQ
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 530
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Gaming Laptop