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Intel Core i7-3635QM

Intel Core i7-3635QM: An Outdated Warrior or a Budget Solution? An Analysis of the Processor in 2025

(Relevant for users considering used devices or historical context)

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: The Legacy of Ivy Bridge

The Intel Core i7-3635QM, released in 2013, belongs to the third generation of Intel Core processors (codename Ivy Bridge). It is manufactured using a 22nm process technology, which was a significant advancement at the time compared to the 32nm Sandy Bridge.

- Cores and Threads: 4 cores, 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Frequencies: Base - 2.4 GHz, maximum turbo frequency - 3.4 GHz (single core) or 3.2 GHz when all cores are under load.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 with a frequency of 650–1200 MHz. Supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.0 but struggles with modern games even at low settings.

- Architecture Features:

- Support for AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) to accelerate computations in scientific and multimedia tasks.

- 6 MB of L3 cache.

- PCIe 3.0 (relevant for SSDs and external GPUs in older systems).

Despite the outdated manufacturing process, the processor demonstrates commendable reliability. However, the lack of support for modern instructions (such as AVX-512) and the limitations of DDR3-1600 MHz memory make it poorly suited for tasks in 2025.

Power Consumption and TDP: The Price of Performance

The processor's TDP is 45 watts. For laptops, this means:

- Cooling Requirements: Even in 2025, systems with this processor will be noisy under load.

- Limited Portability: Laptops with the i7-3635QM are typically 15.6" devices weighing from 2.5 kg.

In comparison, modern Intel Core 12th generation (Alder Lake) processors with similar performance have a TDP of 15–28 watts, and the Apple M2 consumes only 20 watts.

Performance: How Does It Hold Up in 2025?

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core: 637 points.

- Multi-Core: 2147 points.

Real-World Tasks:

- Office Work: Basic applications (Word, Excel, browser with 10+ tabs) run smoothly, but 4K video in YouTube may experience stuttering.

- Multimedia: Video conversion in HandBrake takes 3–4 times longer than on a Ryzen 5 7600U.

- Gaming:

- Integrated Graphics: CS:GO - 30–40 FPS on low settings (720p).

- With a discrete GPU (e.g., GTX 1650): Fortnite - 60 FPS on medium settings (1080p), but modern AAA titles (Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty) will be unplayable.

- Turbo Mode: During brief loads (e.g., opening a heavy PDF), the frequency spikes to 3.4 GHz, but during prolonged tasks (rendering), it drops to 2.8–3.0 GHz due to overheating.

Usage Scenarios: Who Is It Relevant for in 2025?

1. Budget Devices: Used laptops (price: $150–250) for students or office tasks.

2. Legacy Systems: Support for Windows 10 (but not Windows 11 due to the absence of TPM 2.0) makes it an option for companies slowly upgrading their software.

3. Upgrade Enthusiasts: Ability to install in old motherboards for PC restoration.

Not Suitable For:

- Modern gaming.

- Working with neural networks, 3D modeling, 4K editing.

Battery Life: The Cost of Power

Even in new (at the time of release) laptops, battery life rarely exceeded 4–5 hours. In 2025, due to battery degradation in used devices, this figure decreases to 2–3 hours.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency scaling.

- C-States: Shutting down unused cores.

However, modern processors (e.g., AMD Ryzen 5 7535U) consume 30–40% less energy in similar tasks.

Comparison with Competitors: In the Modern Context

- AMD A10-5750M (2013): Lags in multi-threading (Multi-Core ~1800), but excels in graphics (Radeon HD 8650G).

- Intel Core i5-1240P (2024): Single-Core — 1800+, Multi-Core — 8000+. TDP 28 watts.

- Apple M1 (2020): Single-Core — 1700, Multi-Core — 7500 with TDP of 20 watts.

Conclusion: i7-3635QM falls behind even budget modern CPUs, but may be an alternative for those seeking a "workhorse" for $200.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Reliability and durability.

- Support for virtualization (VT-x, VT-d).

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.

Weaknesses:

- High power consumption.

- No support for DDR4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6.

- Outdated graphics.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

If you're considering a device with the i7-3635QM in 2025:

1. Device Type: Only used business laptops (e.g., Dell Latitude E6530) or gaming models from the last decade (MSI GT60).

2. What to Look For:

- Condition of the battery.

- Presence of an SSD (original HDDs are no longer suitable for operation).

- Ports: USB 3.0 is essential, Thunderbolt is absent.

3. Price: Don't overpay! A laptop with this CPU should not cost more than $300 even in excellent condition.

Final Conclusion: Who Is It Suitable For?

The Intel Core i7-3635QM in 2025 is suitable for:

- Budget-conscious users who need a laptop for internet browsing, office work, and older games.

- IT specialists restoring legacy systems.

- Retro hardware enthusiasts.

Key Benefits:

- Low cost.

- Time-tested architecture.

- Easy upgrade (replacing HDD with SSD, adding RAM).

However, for serious tasks, it’s better to consider laptops based on Intel Core i3-N305 ($400–500) or AMD Ryzen 3 7320U ($450–550), which offer twice the performance with lower energy consumption.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i7-3635QM

Code Name

Ivi Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.40 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1224

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

45 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

105 C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.20 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

637

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2147

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

685

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2592

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1687

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4726

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-7020U

728 +14.3%

Ryzen Embedded R1305G

670 +5.2%

Core i7-3635QM

637

Xeon E5-2687W

597 -6.3%

Core i5-3340M

559 -12.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Pentium Gold 7505

2590 +20.6%

Core i5-4430S

2397 +11.6%

Core i7-3635QM

2147

Core i7-4610M

1967 -8.4%

Xeon E5-2440

1813 -15.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i7-6600U

730 +6.6%

Core i7-5700EQ

709 +3.5%

Core i7-3635QM

685

Core i5-4430S

666 -2.8%

FX-8370E

644 -6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-3570K

2829 +9.1%

Core i7-2600

2709 +4.5%

Core i7-3635QM

2592

Xeon E5-2609

2443 -5.7%

Core i5-6500T

2287 -11.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-6360U

1740 +3.1%

EPYC 7401P

1707 +1.2%

Core i7-3635QM

1687

Core i5-3340M

1645 -2.5%

A12-9800E

1617 -4.1%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

FX-8320

5441 +15.1%

Core i5-7300HQ

5098 +7.9%

Core i7-3635QM

4726

Core i5-3450

4493 -4.9%

Core i5-6400T

4276 -9.5%