Comparing: Intel Core i7 720QM vs Intel Core i5 6300U

Specification Comparison Table

This specification comparison presents technical details of several devices or components to help you understand the key differences between each option. Use this table as a reference to determine which device best suits your needs.

Submission Comparison Table

This submission comparison table displays the number and details of benchmark data submissions from various devices or components. This information helps you understand the performance based on the benchmarks that have been tested, as well as providing an overview of the consistency and popularity of the available benchmark results.

Submission Comparison Chart

This chart visualizes the benchmark scores comparison between two hardware devices based on submitted data.

Media Gallery

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About Hardware Intel Core i7 720QM

The Intel Core i7-720QM, launched in Q3 2009, was one of the first mobile quad-core processors to feature Intel's Nehalem microarchitecture, specifically the Clarksfield variant. Targeted at high-performance laptops, such as gaming machines and mobile workstations, the i7-720QM brought 4 physical cores and 8 threads to the mobile platform, thanks to Hyper-Threading Technology providing a significant boost in multi-threaded workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and other professional-grade applications. The processor runs at a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz, but it can dynamically increase up to 2.8 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost, depending on thermal headroom and power availability.

Manufactured using a 45nm process, the i7-720QM has a TDP of 45W, which is quite high by today's mobile CPU standards. This thermal demand necessitated more robust cooling solutions in laptops that featured the chip. Unlike modern CPUs, the i7-720QM does not come with integrated graphics, which means systems based on this processor require a dedicated GPU often from AMD or NVIDIA for graphics processing and display output. As such, it was typically paired with mid-to-high-end discrete graphics cards in its time, making it a solid choice for gaming and multimedia laptops in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

While the Core i7-720QM was a powerhouse during its release, its performance and efficiency are significantly outpaced by modern CPUs built on smaller nodes and with higher IPC (Instructions Per Clock). Nevertheless, legacy laptops using the i7-720QM can still be viable for basic computing tasks like web browsing, document editing, or watching videos especially if paired with an SSD upgrade and increased RAM. Users running Windows 10 on such systems may experience some limitations, but with proper optimization and lightweight software, the CPU can still deliver a usable experience in non-demanding environments.

Hardware Detail:

Device: HP Pavilion dv3-4054TX
RAM: 4GB DDR3 Single Channel
OS: Windows 7, Windows 10

Tuesday, 19 July 2022 19:48:49 | Update: 4 days ago

About Hardware Intel Core i5 6300U

The Intel Core i5-6300U is a dual-core, quad-thread mobile processor that belongs to Intel’s Skylake generation, released in 2015. Designed with power efficiency in mind, the i5-6300U operates at a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and can dynamically boost up to 3.0 GHz thanks to Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. Built on a 14nm manufacturing process, this processor has a low thermal design power (TDP) of just 15 watts, making it ideal for ultrabooks and slim laptops where battery life and heat management are crucial. The chip features integrated Intel HD Graphics 520, which supports smooth 4K video playback and can handle light gaming and everyday graphical tasks, making it suitable for casual multimedia users.

In practical use, the i5-6300U offers reliable performance for common activities such as web browsing, office productivity software, video streaming, and basic photo editing. It is commonly found in business laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad T470, equipped with 8GB DDR4 RAM and running Windows 10, providing a smooth user experience for professionals and students alike. Despite its strengths, the i5-6300U’s performance in modern multi-threaded applications and gaming falls behind newer processors due to its limited cores and older architecture. Nevertheless, it remains a solid choice for users prioritizing energy efficiency and portability over raw computing power.

Overall, the Intel Core i5-6300U continues to be a dependable processor in the used laptop market and legacy systems, delivering a good balance of performance and power consumption for everyday computing tasks, especially in ultrabook designs where efficiency is key.

Hardware Detail:

Device: Lenovo ThinkPad T470
RAM: 8GB DDR4 Single Channel
OS: Windows 10

Thursday, 10 August 2023 10:15:48 | Update: 4 days ago