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Intel Core i7-2630QM

Intel Core i7-2630QM: Retrospective and Relevance in 2025

Exploring who might still find use for the legendary decade-old processor today

Architecture and Process: Sandy Bridge as a Step Forward

The Intel Core i7-2630QM processor, released in 2011, became part of the revolutionary Sandy Bridge generation. This architecture laid the groundwork for modern CPUs with key innovations:

- 4 Cores and 8 Threads: Hyper-Threading support allowed for effective task distribution, marking a breakthrough for mobile systems.

- Clock Speeds: Base frequency of 2.0 GHz, with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz for a single core. In multi-threaded scenarios, the frequency could rise to 2.6 GHz.

- Integrated Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000: 12 Execution Units (EUs), supporting DirectX 10.1. For its time, it was a decent option for casual gaming and video editing.

- 32nm Process: Reduced power consumption compared to the previous generation (45nm) and improved transistor density.

- Cache Memory: 6MB of L3 cache, which accelerated data processing.

Despite its age, Sandy Bridge is still considered a "workhorse" for basic tasks thanks to its stability and software optimization for Intel architecture.

Power Consumption and TDP: Thermal Package and Its Implications

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the Core i7-2630QM is 45W. This meant that the processor required serious cooling solutions, limiting its use in slim laptops.

- Heat Generation: Under load, temperatures could reach 90–95°C, particularly in compact cases.

- Design Impact: Laptops with this CPU typically fell into the "thick" workstation or gaming model category (for example, the Dell XPS 17 from 2011).

In 2025, such figures seem archaic: modern mobile CPUs with TDPs of 15–28W demonstrate twice the performance.

Performance: How Does It Handle Tasks in 2025?

The Geekbench 6 score (460 Single-Core / 1394 Multi-Core) allows for comparison of the i7-2630QM with budget modern CPUs:

- Single-Core Load: The result is close to the Intel Celeron N5100 (2021), but noticeably lags behind even basic Core i3-1215U (around 1800 points).

- Multi-Core Performance: At the level of the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U (2023), but 4–5 times lower than that of the Core i5-1240P.

Real-World Scenarios:

- Office Work: A browser with 10 tabs, Word, Excel — potential slowdowns when running Zoom simultaneously.

- Multimedia: Plays 1080p/4K video (with hardware acceleration), but rendering in DaVinci Resolve will take 3–4 times longer than on new CPUs.

- Gaming: The integrated HD 3000 graphics can only handle games from before 2012 at low settings (e.g., Skyrim, CS:GO at 720p).

Turbo Boost: The turbo mode provided a performance boost of up to 30%, but due to overheating, throttling often occurred, reducing the frequency to the base level.

Use Scenarios: Who Could Use It in 2025?

1. Secondary Market: Laptops with i7-2630QM are sold for $50–150 in the used category.

2. Basic Tasks: Web surfing, document editing, watching movies.

3. Educational Purposes: For schoolchildren or students needing a cheap laptop for studies.

4. Enthusiasts: Hobbyists looking to upgrade older systems (e.g., installing an SSD and increasing RAM to 16GB).

Important! For modern applications with AI, 4K editing, or games released after 2015, this processor is unsuitable.

Battery Life: Battery vs. Power Consumption

The standard battery in laptops from 2011-2013 is 48–56 Wh. With a TDP of 45W, battery life was:

- 2–3 hours under load;

- 4–5 hours at idle.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency adjustment.

- C-States: Turning off unused cores.

- Display Power Saving Technology: Reducing screen brightness.

Today, even budget Chromebooks with ARM processors provide 8–10 hours of battery life, making the i7-2630QM uncompetitive in mobility.

Comparison with Competitors: Against AMD, Apple, and Previous Generations

- AMD A8-3500M (Llano, 2011): Weaker in multi-threading (~1000 points in Geekbench 6), but better graphics with Radeon HD 6620G.

- Intel Core i7-920XM (Nehalem, 2009): Inferior in energy efficiency, but comparable in performance.

- Apple MacBook Pro 2011 (Core i7-2720QM): Similar specifications, but in 2025 macOS on such devices is no longer updated.

Modern Analogues:

- Intel N100 (2023): TDP of 6W, comparable multi-core performance, supports AVX2 and Wi-Fi 6.

- AMD Ryzen 3 7320U: 4 times faster in single-threaded tasks, TDP of 15W.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying?

Strengths:

- Low cost in the secondary market.

- Support for 16GB DDR3 and SSD.

- Reliability and longevity (with thermal paste replacement).

Weaknesses:

- High power consumption.

- Lack of support for modern instruction sets (AVX2, AI acceleration).

- Outdated ports (USB 2.0, no USB-C).

Laptop Selection Recommendations

If you decide to purchase a device with the i7-2630QM, pay attention to:

1. Form Factor: Prefer models with 15–17 inch screens for more efficient cooling.

2. Upgrade: An SSD (SATA III) and 8–16 GB RAM are essential.

3. Battery Condition: Replace the battery with a new one (cost $20–40).

4. OS: Use Linux (Lubuntu, Xubuntu) or Windows 10 LTSC to optimize performance.

Example Models: Dell Precision M4600, HP EliteBook 8560w, Lenovo ThinkPad W520.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the Core i7-2630QM Relevant For?

This processor is a choice for:

- Budget-conscious users willing to accept limitations for savings.

- Enthusiasts looking to revive "hardware" from a bygone era.

- Offices needing cheap computers for text tasks.

Key Benefits:

- Extremely low price.

- Upgrade potential.

- Nostalgic factor.

However, for most users in 2025, it is wiser to opt for even a budget laptop equipped with an Intel N100 or AMD Ryzen 3 — they provide a better balance of performance, battery life, and support for modern technologies.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2011

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.

i7-2630QM

Code Name

Sandy 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.

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.

2.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.90 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.

FCPGA988 | PPGA988

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.

32 nm

Max. Operating Temperature

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

100 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.

2.0

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 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

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

16 GB

Memory Channels

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

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).

21.3 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 3000

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.

1.10 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.

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

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

460

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1394

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

416

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1615

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1226

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3558

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Athlon X4 760K

534 +16.1%

FX-6300

495 +7.6%

Core i7-2630QM

460

Opteron 6378

425 -7.6%

Core i5-2557M

394 -14.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Ryzen Embedded R2312

1706 +22.4%

Pentium Gold 6500Y

1535 +10.1%

Core i7-2630QM

1394

Core i3-3245

1228 -11.9%

Celeron G3920

1088 -22%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Pentium G620

457 +9.9%

A6 PRO-7400B

441 +6%

Core i7-2630QM

416

Core i3-390M

390 -6.3%

Pentium B960

355 -14.7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Opteron 4332 HE

1873 +16%

EPYC 9554P

1715 +6.2%

Core i7-2630QM

1615

Core i3-3250

1511 -6.4%

Pentium G3260

1440 -10.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

FX-8120

1333 +8.7%

Core i3-3130M

1285 +4.8%

Core i7-2630QM

1226

Core m3-6Y30

1179 -3.8%

Core M-5Y10

1119 -8.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Athlon 300U

3944 +10.8%

Pentium G4620

3751 +5.4%

Core i7-2630QM

3558

Core i5-7200U

3392 -4.7%

PRO A8-8650B

3224 -9.4%