Core i7-720QM vs Core 2 Duo E8400

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Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Duo E8400
2008
2 cores / 2 threads, 65 Watt
0.73
Core i7-720QM
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
1.04
+42.5%

Core i7-720QM outperforms Core 2 Duo E8400 by a considerable 42% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking26852441
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataIntel Core i7
Power efficiency1.062.19
Architecture codenameWolfdale (2008−2010)Clarksfield (2009−2010)
Release date1 January 2008 (16 years ago)23 September 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$546

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads28
Base clock speed3 GHz1.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3 GHz2.8 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rate1333 MHz2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data12
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache6 MB (shared)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache0 KB6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm45 nm
Die size104 mm2296 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistors410 million774 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage range0.85V-1.3625Vno data

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketLGA775FCPGA988,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.2
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology-1.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAEno data36 Bit
FSB parity-no data

Security technologies

Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR1, DDR2, DDR3DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
Maximum memory sizeno data8 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardOn certain motherboards (Chipset feature)None

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM.

PCIe version2.02
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core 2 Duo E8400 0.73
i7-720QM 1.04
+42.5%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Core 2 Duo E8400 1165
i7-720QM 1659
+42.4%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Core 2 Duo E8400 370
+20.9%
i7-720QM 306

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Core 2 Duo E8400 604
i7-720QM 854
+41.4%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.73 1.04
Recency 1 January 2008 23 September 2009
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 2 8
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 45 Watt

i7-720QM has a 42.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and 44.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-720QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Duo E8400 in performance tests.

Note that Core 2 Duo E8400 is a desktop processor while Core i7-720QM is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Duo E8400 and Core i7-720QM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Core 2 Duo E8400
Intel Core i7-720QM
Core i7-720QM

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core 2 Duo E8400 or Core i7-720QM, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.