Intel Core i7-3720QM Mobiler SR0ML 2.6GHz 4 Kern 1MB L2 PGA988B

The Intel Core i7-3720QM is a fast mobile quad-core processor based on the Ivy Bridge architecture. Thanks to Hyperthreading, the 4 cores can process up to 8 threads simultaneously. In contrast to its predecessor Sandy Bridge, which was still produced in 32 nanometres, it is manufactured in a smaller 22 nanometre process with 3D transistors. With a clock speed of 2.6 GHz (maximum Turbo: 3.4 GHz for 4 cores, 3.5 GHz for 2 cores, 3.6 GHz for 1 core), the i7-3720QM is just below the i7-3820QM (2.7 GHz), which also has the larger L3 cache (8 MB instead of 6 MB).

Ivy Bridge is a die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture, which has only been improved in a few places. Among other things, PCI Express in the new version 3.0 and DDR3(L)-1600 are now supported. There were no changes in the feature set, which still includes, for example, the encryption technology AES-NI, the instruction set extension AVX and Turbo-Boost 2.0. The biggest changes were in the integrated processor graphics card and the multimedia features.

The performance of the i7-3720QM is about 5% higher than an equivalent clocked Sandy Bridge architecture model due to minor improvements in per-MHz performance. Compared to the i7-3820QM, the processor falls about 5% behind and matches the i7-2960XM of the previous generation. This is enough to master even demanding applications like HD video editing or current 3D games with ease.

The Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated in the processor with 16 so-called Execution Units (EUs) is responsible for the graphics output. Using Turbo mode, the output clock rate can increase from 650 MHz to 1250 MHz. The performance is about 40 % higher than that of the predecessor (HD Graphics 3000), which means that the graphics solution of Llano (Radeon HD 6620G as the fastest model) is also reached or partly surpassed.

Like most quad-core models of the Sandy Bridge series, the i7-3720QM has a TDP of 45 watts, which also includes the graphics unit. This means that the CPU is only suitable for large notebooks from 15 inches upwards.