Core m3-7Y30 vs Core i7-2620M

Core m3-7Y30

2 Cores4 Thrd4.5 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2016

Core i7-2620M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core m3-7Y30

2 / 4

2,418

0.0%

2,424

+0.2%

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 m3-7Y30 is positioned at rank 1116 and the Core i7-2620M is on rank 1162, so the Core m3-7Y30 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 m3-7Y30

#1104

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3412%

#1105

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3362%

#1106

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3086%

#1107

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3072%

#1108

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3044%

#1110

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2940%

#1111

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2819%

#1112

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2814%

#1113

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2738%

#1116

Core m3-7Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1117

Pentium 977

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

100%

#1118

Core i7-2715QE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $50

99%

#1119

VIA Nano U2250

MSRP: $50|Avg: $10

99%

#1121

Core i5-560M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

98%

#1122

Pentium U5600

MSRP: $100|Avg: $50

97%

#1123

Core m5-6Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

97%

#1125

Core i7-610E

MSRP: $250|Avg: $40

96%

#1126

Core i5-5350U

MSRP: $315|Avg: N/A

96%

#1127

Core i7-3520M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

95%

#1128

Pentium Dual Core T4300

MSRP: $150|Avg: $99

95%

#1129

Core i3-4100E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $30

95%

#1130

Core i3-2310E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $20

95%

#1131

Core i5-2510E

MSRP: $230|Avg: $30

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2620M

#1149

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

4185%

#1150

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

4124%

#1151

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3786%

#1152

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3769%

#1153

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3734%

#1155

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3606%

#1156

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3458%

#1157

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3452%

#1158

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3359%

#1162

Core i7-2620M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

100%

#1163

Celeron N3010

MSRP: $107|Avg: N/A

98%

#1164

Core i7-3537U

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

97%

#1165

Core M-5Y10a

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

97%

#1166

Core M-5Y10c

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

97%

#1167

Core M-5Y31

MSRP: $281|Avg: $30

97%

#1169

Celeron 1047UE

MSRP: $100|Avg: $100

96%

#1170

Core M-5Y70

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

96%

#1171

Celeron U3400

MSRP: $86|Avg: $5

95%

#1172

Celeron T1600

MSRP: $107|Avg: $15

95%

#1173

Pro A12-8800B

MSRP: $400|Avg: $40

95%

#1175

Core i7-2637M

MSRP: $289|Avg: N/A

93%

#1176

Core 2 Duo SL9600

MSRP: $316|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core m3-7Y30 leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i7-2620M is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.2% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core m3-7Y30	Core i7-2620M
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($281)	⚠️ Higher cost ($346)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core m3-7Y30 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 19% cheaper ($281 vs $346) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core m3-7Y30	Core i7-2620M
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+23%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($281)	⚠️ Higher cost ($346)

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.

Core m3-7Y30 Benchmark Check

Core i7-2620M Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core m3-7Y30 and Core i7-2620M

Core m3-7Y30

The Core m3-7Y30 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,418 points. Launch price was $281.

Core i7-2620M

The Core i7-2620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,424 points. Launch price was $346.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core m3-7Y30 and Core i7-2620M share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core m3-7Y30 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-2620M — a 26.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2620M (base: 1 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core m3-7Y30 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-2620M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core m3-7Y30 scores 2,418 against the Core i7-2620M's 2,424 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-2620M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 768 vs 509, a 40.6% lead for the Core m3-7Y30 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,481 vs 1,222 (19.2% advantage for the Core m3-7Y30). Both processors carry 4 MB of L3 cache.

Feature	Core m3-7Y30	Core i7-2620M
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.4 GHz+31%
Base Clock	1 GHz	2.7 GHz+170%
L3 Cache	4 MB	4 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,418	2,424
Cinebench R23 Multi	645	—
Geekbench 6 Single	768+51%	509
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,481+21%	1,222

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core m3-7Y30 uses the FCBGA1515 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2620M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR3-1866 / DDR3L-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Core m3-7Y30) vs 16 (Core i7-2620M) — the Core i7-2620M offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Kaby Lake-Y SoC (Core m3-7Y30) and HM65,QM67,HM67,QS67 (Core i7-2620M).

Feature	Core m3-7Y30	Core i7-2620M
Socket	FCBGA1515	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR3-1866 / DDR3L-1600	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	10	16+60%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core m3-7Y30) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2620M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 615 (Core m3-7Y30) and HD 3000 (Core i7-2620M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core m3-7Y30 targets Ultra-portable, Core i7-2620M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-2620M rivals Core i5-2410M.

Feature	Core m3-7Y30	Core i7-2620M
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics 615	HD 3000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Ultra-portable	Budget