
Core i7-3635QM vs Core i5-6300HQ

Core i7-3635QM

Core i5-6300HQ
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3635QM
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6300HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3635QM | Core 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
| Insight | Core i7-3635QM | Core i5-6300HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-3635QM and Core i5-6300HQ

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.

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.
| Feature | Core i7-3635QM | Core 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.
| Feature | Core i7-3635QM | Core 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.
| Feature | Core i7-3635QM | Core 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 |
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